Colon cancer in Chile before and after the start of the flour fortification program with folic acid

Abstract

Our data provide new evidence that a folate fortification program could be associated with an additional risk of colon cancer.

Gene-Nutrient Interaction between Folate and Dihydrofolate Reductase in Risk for Adenomatous Polyp Occurrence: A Preliminary Report

“…This association was also supported by the result from a chi-square test 3 Ins signifies allele has no 19bp-deletion. 4 del signifies allele has 19bp-deletion. 5 Odds ratio was not computed for this group due to a lack of subjects (only one subject with del/del genotype and adenomatous polyp).…”

“…In contrast, increased nutritional folate intake and high blood folate is likely to have a protective effect against CRC (1,2). However, recent evidence suggests that the use of folate supplements and the implementation of mandatory folic acid fortification may be associated with elevated prevalence of CRC (3)(4)(5). The precise mechanism eliciting this inconsistency has not yet been verified.…”

Nivel sérico de folato y vitamina B12 en adultos mayores chilenos: Resultados de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud ENS 2009-2010

“…Es decir, la presencia de ácido fólico circulante podría ser más relevante en ciertas poblaciones quienes responderían de manera distinta dependiendo del tiempo y la dosis ingerida. Algunos estudios, pero no todos 6 , sugieren 11,[33][34][35] que niveles elevados de folato sérico, especialmente como ácido fólico, podría promover el crecimiento de algunos cán-ceres o de lesiones preexistentes. Un metanálisis reciente, con seguimiento durante cinco años, no mostró una mayor incidencia 36 .…”

Modulation of One-Carbon Metabolism by B Vitamins: Implications for Transformation and Progression of Prostate Cancer

“…Subsequent to governmentmandated fortification of US, Canadian and Chilean diets with FA, numerous reports appeared documenting a higher incidence of certain cancers (colon, rectum, breast, prostate), reviewed by Young-In Kim and others (Hirsch et al, 2009;Kim, 2008;Smith et al, 2008). The newest data relate elevated serum and prostate tissue folate to increased Gleason's grade and proliferation of prostate tumors compared to normal donor prostate tissue (Tomaszewski et al, 2011).…”

“…Fortification has proven 19% effective (Honein et al, 2001) in rescuing approximately ~1500-2000 live births a year from neural tube anomalies (spina bifida and anencephaly). However, fortification was followed by reports of reversal of the declining incidence of colorectal cancer in the US, Canada and Chile Hirsch et al, 2009 . In the following years, larger amounts of FA were ingested to metabolically lower serum levels of the vasculotoxic amino acid, homocysteine.…”