A well-known supplement to women who are pregnant or plan to be pregnant may increase the risk of developing breast cancer, according to a new study the Business Standard reported.
New research suggests that when taking large amounts of folic acid could increase the development of preexisting cancerous cells in the breast.
In a prepared statement, Young-In Kim, a physician and researcher at St. Michael's Hospital in Canada, said researchers found that folic acid supplements in doses 2.5-5 times the daily requirement "significantly promotes" the growth of existing pre-cancerous or cancerous cells in the mammary glands of rats.
Large amounts of folic acid, similar in the amount given to patients and survivors of breast cancer, were given to rats with preexisting mammary tumors. The rats were given a diet containing 2.5, four or five times the daily recommendation for folic acid for women or a control diet without the B vitamin.
Researchers found that doses of the supplement that were more than 2.5 times the amount given to women promoted the growth of pre-cancerous and cancerous cells in the mammary glands of rats.
"This is a critically important issue because breast cancer patients and survivors in North America are exposed to high amounts levels of folic acid through folic acid fortification in food and widespread use of vitamin supplements after a cancer diagnosis," Kim said.
In their study, researchers noted that breast cancer patients and survivors in the United States have a high prevalence of multivitamin and supplement use.
Pregnant women are routinely advised to take 400 micrograms of the supplement daily, starting a month before she intends on becoming pregnant, in order to promote the healthy growth of the fetus, The Medical Daily reported.
