My doctor prescribed 5mg but I've seen 400mcg mentioned everywhere online. Which is correct?
Both are correct for different situations. The standard recommendation is 400–800 mcg (0.4–0.8 mg) for low-risk pregnancies ideally starting 3 months before conception. Your doctor likely prescribed 5 mg because you have a risk factor that warrants higher dose — such as a previous neural tube defect pregnancy, family history, diabetes, epilepsy medication, or BMI over 30. Trust your doctor's prescription; they know your full history. 5 mg is well-studied and safe.
Same happened to me — I was confused until my doctor explained I have a MTHFR gene variant that affects folic acid metabolism, so I needed the higher dose. This is actually quite common in South Asian populations. If you haven't been tested for MTHFR, it's worth asking about.
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