By "we", I mean the entire populations of the so-called Developed Countries of the world. We need folate, but instead of providing folate, a lot of the processed foods we eat are fortified with folic acid (and all sorts of other "wonderful" ingredients, that may not be so wonderful after all.
As I was adding this reference to the information about vitamins in the post I'm working on concerning "Safe Medications and Supplements", it occurred to me that maybe we should all be aware of this, since cancer and so many other medical problems have continued to be such a persistent problem during the last half to three-quarters of a century, despite medical advances in treating them. If I recall correctly, folic acid also has an effect on the immune system. Maybe by "enriching" our foods, we're promoting cancer and other problems, instead. This is additional evidence that whole foods are always much safer, and more nutritious than processed foods. Consider this, from one of Cris Kressor's blogs. The NTDs that he refers to are neural tube defects in newborns, which was the original reason for fortifying foods with folic acid in the first place. Maybe we should be making sure that expectant mothers are getting plenty of folate, rather than force feeding folic acid to all of us.
The little known (but crucial) difference between folate and folic acidRisks associated with excessive folic acid intake
While the incidence of NTDs in the United States been significantly reduced since folic acid fortification began, there has been concern about the safety of chronic intake of high levels of folic acid from fortified foods, beverages and dietary supplements. (5) One of the major risks associated with excessive intake of folic acid is the development of cancer. (6) In patients with ischemic heart disease in Norway, where there is no folic acid fortification of foods, treatment with folic acid plus vitamin B12 was associated with increased cancer outcomes and all-cause mortality. In the United States, Canada, and Chile, the institution of a folic acid supplementation program was associated with an increased prevalence of colon cancer. (7, 8) A randomized control trial found that that daily supplementation with 1 mg of folic acid was associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. (9)
Researchers have hypothesized that the excessive consumption of folic acid in fortified foods may be directly related to the increase in cancer rates. Excess folic acid may stimulate the growth of established neoplasms, which can eventually lead to cancer. The presence of unmetabolized folic acid in the blood is associated with decreased natural killer cytotoxicity. (10) Since natural killer cells play a role in tumor cell destruction, this would suggest another way in which excess folic acid might promote existing premalignant and malignant lesions.
A high intake of folic acid might mask detection of vitamin B12 deficiency and lead to a deterioration of central nervous system function in the elderly. In one study, consumption of folic acid in excess of 400 micrograms per day among older adults resulted in significantly faster rate of cognitive decline than supplement nonusers. (11) Another study found a higher prevalence of both anemia and cognitive impairment in association with high folic acid intake in older adults with a low vitamin B12 status. (12) As vitamin B12 deficiency is a common problem for many older adults, these studies suggest that high folic acid intake could cause serious cognitive consequences in the elderly.
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