Folate is a B vitamin found naturally in many green leafy
vegetables, nuts, legumes, and orange juice. It is needed in the
body to make and repair DNA and may play a role in protecting us
against cancer. In 1998, the US Food and Drug Administration
instituted a folate fortification program to help prevent birth
defects, such as spina bifida. They used folic acid, which is
the synthetic form of folate. The result was a significant drop
in birth defects. But recent epidemiological data have given
rise to concerns that folic acid fortification may increase the
risk of colorectal cancer. An animal study published in last
month’s issue of Cancer Prevention Research suggests that the
cancer-related effects of folate/folic-acid may partially be
explained by when and how long you take this essential nutrient.
The researchers wanted to see what effects a diet lower in
folate would have on tumor development. Folate acts by serving
as a methyl group donor. Methyl groups are small molecules that
can attach to DNA to infl