Folic acid and B12 implicated in causing serious illness

[Guest guest]

Interesting and scary study about supplementing with folic acid and B12:

Folic acid may have a link to cancer development.

THE QUESTION Folic acid, the synthetic form of Vitamin B9, is used to

fortify foods in the United States to prevent birth defects. Might it pose

cancer risks?

THIS STUDY analyzed data on 6,837 people with heart disease, who averaged 62

years old and had been randomly assigned to take various B vitamins -- folic

acid plus vitamins B12 and B6, folic acid plus B12, or Vitamin B6alone -- or

a placebo for about three years. During a span of six years from the start

of the study, 629 people were diagnosed with cancer and 1,021 people died,

with 236 deaths attributed to cancer, mostly lung cancer. People who took

folic acid were 21 percent more likely to have developed cancer and 38

percent more likely to have died from it than were people who did not take

the supplement.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? People who take folic acid and B12 supplements. Since

1998, folic acid has been added to U.S. flour and products made from grains

to reduce the risk for neural tube defects. Many people also get the

nutrient through supplements. Folate, the natural form of folic acid, is

considered crucial to cell development.

CAVEATS All participants lived in Norway, where foods are not fortified with

folic acid. People who took folic acid also took Vitamin B12; the study did

not determine whether the two shared equally in the added risk. The folic

acid dosage in the study was higher than the U.S. recommended daily

allowance but, according to the authors, reflected " intake readily obtained

from consumption of fortified foods and dietary supplements. " Data on family

history of cancer was not available, and information on smoking was limited.

Alpharma provided the supplements used in the study.

FIND THIS STUDY Nov. 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical

Association.

[Guest guest]

From what I understand, all 6837 study participants had ischemic heart disease?It would be interesting to see this same study on healthy participants.From: Francesca Skelton <fskelton@...>Subject: [ ] Folic acid and B12 implicated in causing serious illness"support group" < >Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2009, 1:39 PM

 

Interesting and scary study about supplementing with folic acid and B12:

Folic acid may have a link to cancer development.

THE QUESTION Folic acid, the synthetic form of Vitamin B9, is used to

fortify foods in the United States to prevent birth defects. Might it pose

cancer risks?

THIS STUDY analyzed data on 6,837 people with heart disease, who averaged 62

years old and had been randomly assigned to take various B vitamins -- folic

acid plus vitamins B12 and B6, folic acid plus B12, or Vitamin B6alone -- or

a placebo for about three years. During a span of six years from the start

of the study, 629 people were diagnosed with cancer and 1,021 people died,

with 236 deaths attributed to cancer, mostly lung cancer. People who took

folic acid were 21 percent more likely to have developed cancer and 38

percent more likely to have died from it than were people who did not take

the supplement.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? People who take folic acid and B12 supplements. Since

1998, folic acid has been added to U.S. flour and products made from grains

to reduce the risk for neural tube defects. Many people also get the

nutrient through supplements. Folate, the natural form of folic acid, is

considered crucial to cell development.

CAVEATS All participants lived in Norway, where foods are not fortified with

folic acid. People who took folic acid also took Vitamin B12; the study did

not determine whether the two shared equally in the added risk. The folic

acid dosage in the study was higher than the U.S. recommended daily

allowance but, according to the authors, reflected "intake readily obtained

from consumption of fortified foods and dietary supplements. " Data on family

history of cancer was not available, and information on smoking was limited.

Alpharma provided the supplements used in the study.

FIND THIS STUDY Nov. 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical

Association.