Dietary Reference Intakes: Vitamin B9 (folic acid)

Special Note

[recommendations reflect vitamin B9 intake from all sources]

Info: expressed as Dietary Folate Equivalents (DFE), except where otherwise specified; 1 mcg DFE = 1 mcg food folate = 0.6 mcg folic acid from fortified food or supplement taken with food = 0.5 mcg of folic acid supplement taken on an empty stomach

General Information

[primary functions]

coenzyme in nucleic/amino acid metabolism; involved in homocysteine level maintenance

[selected sources]

liver, dark green vegetables, legumes, asparagus

Dietary Reference Intake

[0-6 mo]

65 mcg/day; Info: upper limit not established; only sources of intake should be breastmilk, formula, and food

[7-11 mo]

80 mcg/day; Info: upper limit not established; only sources of intake should be breastmilk, formula, and food

[1-3 yo]

150 mcg/day; Info: folic acid intake >300 mcg/day associated with incr. adverse effects

[4-8 yo]

200 mcg/day; Info: folic acid intake >400 mcg/day associated with incr. adverse effects

[9-13 yo]

300 mcg/day; Info: folic acid intake >600 mcg/day associated with incr. adverse effects

[14-18 yo]

400 mcg/day; Info: incr. to 600 mcg/day if pregnant, 500 mcg/day if breastfeeding; folic acid intake >800 mcg/day associated with incr. adverse effects

[19 yo and older]

400 mcg/day; Info: incr. to 600 mcg/day if pregnant, 500 mcg/day if breastfeeding; folic acid intake >1000 mcg/day associated with incr. adverse effects