Too much folate? Can't find iodine supp!

[Babyluv]

Hi girls,
I have been taking elevit for the past 12 months and a friend just told me elevit doesn't contain iodine which is needed for brain development. So today I went to the chemist to get an iodine supp which they said i couldn't get, that they only had a blackmores folate and iodine mix. The pharmacist there assured me that even though elevit has 800 mcg and the blackmores mix has 500 mcg of folate it wouldn't be too much folate as you can have 5mg per day, so she said! Had a quick google and read something about the FDA saying 1000 mcg max. If I took both tabs I'd be having 1300 mcg a day. Should I return the tabs? How much folate do you girls take? Is anyone taking elevit now who has found an iodine supp or a way to get enough iodine? I could be preg now, testing in a week and want to get onto the iodine asap!!!
Thanks ladies
xox

[Curly]

I'd just ditch the Elevit and take Blackmores full time, personally.

[Netix]

Use iodised salt. Its the only salt I use and the only reason I use it, for me and the family. I don't add enough to taste salty, but everyone gets their iodine.

[scarypinkfairy]

although iodine is needed, i read in my book you can get your recommended intake of iodine through a normal or vegetarian diet, so maybe it's not really necessary to take extra supplements. you only need 150-120 mcg.

also, my book said the maximum folic acid you should be taking is 1000mg (milligrams) which is 1000000 mcg or µg (which is micrograms), so i'd say 1300µg is fine. maybe it said milligrams and you thought it said micrograms.

when i was pg last time, i wanted to up my dose of iron, as i don't eat red meat, and the pharmacist said it was fine to take fefol, which was iron and folic acid as well as my normal pregnancy multivitamin. hope this helps and good luck with testing!

[Jahzara]

I used to use Elevit but i now use the Blackmores Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Gold because it has the iodine in it.

[Olive]

go and look for kelp tablets, i almost bought some today! i was in terry white chemist

[Honeybee]

I agree with Netix - use iodised salt. I used iodised salt when I cook, to make sure that DH's and my iodine levels are topped up. If you are pg, this will help your baby too.

ETA - actually, I think it is compulsory for bread manufacturers to add iodine to bread now, because Australians in general don't get enough iodine.

[~mamaspice~]

The naturopath at my local chemist actually said that the Blackmores Gold is better than elevit (despite the fact that elevit is the one a lot of Dr's and pharmacists promote). Not only does it have iodine, but it also has omega 3's which elevit doesn't have. Why not give the blackmores a try if you're concerned?

[Netix]

Honeybee, I thought they had to add folate? I was thinking that when I replied.

[~mamaspice~]

ETA - actually, I think it is compulsory for bread manufacturers to add iodine to bread now, because Australians in general don't get enough iodine.

I think it's actually folate that bread makers have to add to bread now, not iodine.

[Babyluv]

Thanks for the quick responses ladies, I've got lots to think about, might try the blackmores preg vitamin! I'll go return these other vitamins then too

[scarypinkfairy]

i just checked and i use the blackmores pregnancy gold with added iodine, so i would give that a shot

[Jacki]

There is also a pregnancy supplement called Fabfol which also contains iodine. Availability in chemists but am 99% sure you can also get it from supermarkets.
I also recommend switching to iodised salt.

[Rumpleteaser]

You could alternate the days you take each vitamin. One day take the reccomended dose of Elevit, the next day take the recommended dose of the Blackmores, so on and so forth.

I have taken blackmore breasfeeding gold which is 2 caps once day, I have also been taking fefol which contains iron and folate intermittenly during this PG in an attempted to keep my iron up as I became deficant by the third trimester during my last PG

[Babyluv]

Hey ladies,
Thanks for the responses, I went out and got the blackmores preg gold, so taking that now, I now have the blackmores folate/iodine blend though that I don't need! My local mychemist wouldn't exchange it and I don't want to drive an hr just to return them to where I bought them! Silly woman giving me the wrong advice made me waste $20!

[Vixstar]

Babyluv - iodine is found in dairy foods as well. It used to be loads more but the dairy industry changed their procedures and techniques. I ahve always taken Blackmores! I have also begun to use to iodine salt...just on things like pasta sauces, roasts etc. I also use it on my own tomatoes! I do worry about my boys developing a taste for salt as they have an aunt who drowns her food in salt (in this day and age of all things! Pft) so i kinda limit it but they love their dairy so I feel happy!

As for your refund....I have had the same problem with other items I have bought from chemists and found that by going to the manufacturer etc I have found that they are most helpful and have been refunded 2 out of 3 items over the past few years. Also....if the bottle is not open, surely they will accept it back?! Hope you get your money back!

[StephV]

I think it is compulsory for bread manufacturers to add iodine to bread now, because Australians in general don't get enough iodine.

Yes it is :they changed the law very recently. If you live in NZ you would be covered

Did you know that one of the states in USA, I think California, recently banned vegemite because it has folate!

[dreamingbeauty]

the maximum folic acid you should be taking is 1000mg (milligrams) which is 1000000 mcg or µg (which is micrograms), so i'd say 1300µg is fine.

I agree with scarypinkfairy, you can take up to 1000mg daily, I actually have very low folate/folic acid levels and have to take extra to ensure my baby gets the recommended dose. Check out this site, they have linked low folic acid intake to miscarriages! Scary thought, but worth reading.

Low Folic Acid Linked to Miscarriage