Saturday Jan 25, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in International Journal of Cancer suggests that intake of synthetic folate or folic acid or vitamin b9 can increase the risk of breast cancer in European American women.

The study led by Zhihong Gong from Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm & Carlton Sts in Buffalo, New York and colleagues shows that European Ameircan women who had the highest intake of synthetic folate were 58% more likely to develop breast cancer than their counterparts who had the lowest intake.

The study also finds that in premenopausal African American women, intake of natural folate found in a plant-based diet was inversely associated with the risk of breast cancer, that is, those who had the highest intake of natural folate were 43% and 42% less likely to develop breast cancer and estrogen receptor positive breast cancer, respectively, compared with those who had the lowest intake.

The researchers concluded "natural food folate intake is inversely associated with breast cancer risk and that this association may vary by race, menopausal status or ER status. The finding of an increased risk observed among EA women with the highest intake of synthetic folate from fortified foods warrants further investigation."

Early studies have already associated intake of synthetic folate or folic acid with increased risk of colorectal cancer.  Natural folate or folic acid is found high in vegetables particularly dark green leafy vegetavles like spinach and Brussels sprouts, fruits and ffruit juices, nuts, beans, peas, grains.  That means that in a sense eating vegetables may decrease the risk of breast cancer.

Synthetic folate or folic acid is commonly added as a food additive to grain products in many countries.  Synthetic folate or folic acid is added to prevent birth defects.  Although it seems that fortified foods help reduce the risk of birth defects, a growing body of evidence suggests that synthetic folate commonly used to fortify grain products may increase risk of a number of cancers including breast cancer and colorectal cancer.

Breast cancer is diagnosed in 230,000 American women each year and the disease and its complications kill 37,000 women in the country.  The disease in many cases is preventable.   According to an authoritative organization, two major risks are medical radiation and hormone replacement therapy. (David Liu, PHD)