An important mineral that we are advised to take in pregnancy to protect the wellness of growing babies has hit the news again after a study investigating cancer rates. Expert medical publication the Lancet compared data from those who took folic acid and a placebo to find out whether the mineral is linked to the disease, with surprising results.
Why investigate?
Folic acid has been linked with neural tube defects in babies, which leads to spina bifida and possible long-term health issues in adults. The nutrient is believed to be so important to our wellbeing that several countries across the globe add it to flour products, so populations can benefit from it. But a study in Canada showed that cancer rates increased by a small amount after the country began adding folic acid to flour – which caused concern among medical experts. The UK has yet to put a similar programme in place, although it’s been recommended by many medical professionals.
Cancer link broken
To investigate further, the Lancet began its five-year study to see if there are increased cancer risks in those of us who take folic acid. The results showed that there was a small rise in the incidences of the condition, but it was small enough that the increase could be down to chance. Researchers working on the study explain that the groups who should be investigated ought to include those who eat foods fortified with folic acid while also taking supplements containing the nutrient, as they would be ingesting much more of it. Experts also explained that the rise in cancers in Canada could be down to folic acid making cancerous lumps bigger quicker, so they were noticed earlier, which could lead to a ‘false’ inflation in cancer rates. Following the Lancet study, the UK’s chief medical officers and the British Dietetic Association stated that adding folic acid to flour is an effective way to boost the mineral in our diets.
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