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National Post - Too much folic acid could trigger pregnancy problems

Published: 1 February 2011

Researchers at 69ÈÈÊÓƵ are urging Canadians to avoid consuming excessive amounts of folic acid — the vitamin that is added to all flour products as a way to prevent spina bifida in newborn babies — after finding that very high doses of the nutrient actually seemed to trigger pregnancy problems in mice.

Other recent studies have also linked elevated levels of the vitamin to breast cancer in rat offspring and lower birth weight and height in human babies in Spain…

Dr. Rima Rozen, who headed the study, said she still supports fortifying bread and other food with the nutrient, and believes women should take the relatively small dose of supplements recommended by experts around the time they get pregnant — but stop there.

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