Increased folic acid
intake appears to be a good idea in designing diets to prevent cancer of
the colon and breast.
Choi and Mason
[i]
suggested different roles that folic acid might play in preventing cancer:
“The evidence from epidemiologic, animal and human studies strongly
suggests that folate status modulates the risk of developing cancers in
selected tissues, the most notable of which is the colorectum. Folate
depletion appears to enhance carcinogenesis whereas folate supplementation
above what is presently considered to be the basal requirement appears to
convey a protective effect. The means by which this modulation of cancer
risk is mediated is not known with certainty, but there are several
plausible mechanisms which have been described. Folate plays a major role
in the formation of S-adenosylmethionine, the universal methyl donor, as
well as in the formation of purine and thymidine synthesis for DNA and
RNA. Therefore, most mechanistic studies performed to date have focused on
alterations in DNA methylation, disruption of DNA integrity and disruption
of DNA repair, all of which have been observed with folate depletion.
These aberrations in DNA are believed to enhance carcinogenesis by
altering the expression of critical tumor suppressor genes and proto-oncogenes.”
( see abstract)
According to Fuchs, a
diet rich in folic acid, high in methionine and low in alcohol reduce the
risk of colon cancer. Alcohol consumption of more than two drinks per day
increase the cancer risk four fold. 400 mcg per day of folic acid through
supplementation and 200 mcg in the diet reduce colon cancer incidence.(see
abstract)
Zhang et al
[ii]concluded
that folic acid is protective against breast cancer especially for women
who have a higher risk of developing breast cancer because of alcohol
consumption. (see abstract)
[i]
Choi SW; Mason JB .Folate and carcinogenesis: an integrated scheme.J
Nutr 2000 Feb;130(2):129-32 (ISSN: 0022-3166)Vitamin and
Carcinogenesis Program, Jean Mayer U.S. Department of Agriculture
Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston,
Massachusetts, USA.
[ii]
Zhang SM; Willett WC; Selhub J; Hunter DJ; Giovannucci EL; Holmes MD;
Colditz GA; Hankinson SE. Plasma folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12,
homocysteine, and risk of breast cancer.J Natl Cancer Inst 2003 Mar
5;95(5):373-80 (ISSN: 0027-8874)
Folic acid deficiency
diseases: Anemia, Neural Tube Defects, Arterial Disease, Dementia,
Parkinson’s Disease, Colon and Breast Cancer
RDA 200 ug/day; 400 ug
during pregnancy; 280 ug during lactation
Supplement
Recommendation: 400 to 1000 ug/day
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