Folic acid fortification and cancer risk

Bayston, Roger; Russell, Andrew; Wald, NJ; Hoffbrand, A. V.

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(07)61861-3

Cited by 25 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Because of the limitations inherent in these data, the observations cannot prove a causal link (23). By contrast, in two large prospective cohorts (Nurses' Health Study and The Health Professionals Follow-Up Study) higher prediagnostic concentrations of plasma folate not only were not associated with an increased risk of death from colorectal cancer, but predicted lower mortality rates overall (24).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lower Risk of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia in Women with High Plasma Folate and Sufficient Vitamin B12 in the Post-Folic Acid Fortification Era

Piyathilake

Macaluso

Alvarez

et al. 2009

Cancer Prevention Research

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The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of plasma folate and vitamin B12 concentrations on cervical cancer risk in the U.S. after the folic acid fortification era. The study included 376 premenopausal women of childbearing age who tested positive for infections with high-risk (HR) human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and were diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 or higher (CIN 2+, cases) or ≤CIN 1 (noncases). CIN 2+ (yes/no) was the dependent variable in logistic regression models that specified plasma folate concentrations combined with plasma B12 concentrations as the independent predictors of primary interest, adjusting for age, race, education, smoking, parity, number of lifetime male sexual partners, use of contraceptives, waist circumference, physical activity, healthy eating index, and circulating concentrations of vitamins A, C, tocopherol, and total carotene. Women with supraphysiologic concentrations of plasma folate (>19.8 ng/mL) who also had sufficient plasma vitamin B12 (≥200.6 pg/mL) had 70% lower odds of being diagnosed with CIN 2+ (P = 0.04) when compared with women with plasma folate of ≤19.8 ng/mL and plasma vitamin B12 of <200.6 pg/mL. Our results do not corroborate the concern that supraphysiologic plasma folate concentrations seen in the post-U.S. folic acid fortification era increase the risk of CIN in premenopausal women of childbearing age. In fact, higher folate is associated with significantly lower risk of CIN, especially when vitamin B12 is sufficient, demonstrating the importance of vitamin B12 in the high-folate environment created by the folic acid fortification program.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lower Risk of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia in Women with High Plasma Folate and Sufficient Vitamin B12 in the Post-Folic Acid Fortification Era

Piyathilake

Macaluso

Alvarez

et al. 2009

Cancer Prevention Research

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“…In contrast, the role of FA, and in particular of folate fortification, on de novo carcinogenesis in normal tissue has been the subject of many contradictory reports over the past decade (44). Very recently, Bayston et al (7) reported that there is no ground of concern to avoid the fortification with FA and that FA supplementation will not enhance the risk on colorectal carcinomas.…”

Section: Pharmacological Considerations Of Famentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets for folic acid in cardiovascular disease

Moens

Vrints

Claeys

et al. 2008

American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology

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Folic acid (FA) is a member of the B-vitamin family with cardiovascular roles in homocysteine regulation and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity. Its interaction with eNOS is thought to be due to the enhancement of tetrahydrobiopterin bioavailability, helping maintain eNOS in its coupled state to favor the generation of nitric oxide rather than oxygen free radicals. FA also plays a role in the prevention of several cardiac and noncardiac malformations, has potent direct antioxidant and antithrombotic effects, and can interfere with the production of the endothelial-derived hyperpolarizing factor. These multiple mechanisms of action have led to studies regarding the therapeutic potential of FA in cardiovascular disease. To date, studies have demonstrated that FA ameliorates endothelial dysfunction and nitrate tolerance and can improve pathological features of atherosclerosis. These effects appear to be homocysteine independent but rather related to their role in eNOS function. Given the growing evidence that nitric oxide synthase uncoupling plays a major role in many cardiovascular disorders, the potential of exogenous FA as an inexpensive and safe oral therapy is intriguing and is stimulating ongoing investigations.

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“…These concerns originated from clinical studies, where subjects receiving high doses of B vitamins had a borderline increase in the incidence of cancers (Bayston et al 2007). Folate is an essential cofactor for the de novo biosynthesis of purines and thymidines, and in this capacity, folate plays an important role in DNA synthesis and replication.…”

Section: Is Folate Fortification and B Vitamins Administration Safe?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, a recent meta-analysis concluded that B vitamins administration for a median of five years had no effect on cancer incidence, cancer mortality and all-cause mortality. Although overall data suggest that folate fortification is safe (Bayston et al 2007), the debate on whether B vitamins prevent or promote cancer seems to hold on and deserves further investigation.…”

Section: Is Folate Fortification and B Vitamins Administration Safe?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has been clearly demonstrated that folic acid intake at the RDA provides the maximum beneficial vascular effects (Shirodaria et al 2007). Until more convincing evidence is available, folic acid intake (400 mg/day), either by folate fortification or dietary supplements, should be considered safe and unlikely to pose any threat (Bayston et al 2007). Besides, folic acid supplementation prevents neural tube defects and may protect against adverse pregnancy outcomes (including placental abruption) and cognitive decline.…”

Section: Is Folate Fortification and B Vitamins Administration Safe?mentioning

confidence: 99%

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CHAPTER 3. Vitamins and Folate Fortification in the Context of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

Antonopoulos¹,

Shirodaria²,

Antoniades³

2012

B Vitamins and Folate

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Folic acid fortification and cancer risk

Cited by 25 publications

References 3 publications

Lower Risk of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia in Women with High Plasma Folate and Sufficient Vitamin B12 in the Post-Folic Acid Fortification Era

Lower Risk of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia in Women with High Plasma Folate and Sufficient Vitamin B12 in the Post-Folic Acid Fortification Era

Mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets for folic acid in cardiovascular disease

CHAPTER 3. Vitamins and Folate Fortification in the Context of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

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