By David Liu, PHD

Monday Nov 26, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Women who are diagnosed with ER-/PR- breast cancer may be more likely to die if they have a high intake of folate or folic acid, according to a study recently published in Nutrition Journal.

D. Kang at Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University in Seoul, Republic of Korea and colleagues conducted the study and found the positive association between high intake of folate and poor prognosis of ER-/PR- breast cancer.

The study was based on data from 980 women with newly diagnosed and histopathologically confirmed primary breast cancer and 141 with disease progression. 

Overall, one-carbon metabolism related nutrients vitamin B2, B6 and folate were not associated with the progression of breast cancer.

However, women with ER-/PR- breast cancer who had high intake of vitamin B2 and folate were more than twice as likely as those who had low intake to have poor prognosis although these nutrients did not affect the progression of ER+ and/or PR+ breast cancer.

High intake of both vitamin B2 and folate was associated with nearly 300% increased risk of poor disease free survival, compared with low intake of both nutrients.

The researchers concluded "one-carbon related nutrients have a role in the prognosis of breast cancer depending on the ER/PR status."

Folate is commonly added to wheat flour.  Recent research has shown that folate fortification can increase cancer risk in women although this supplement may help prevent birth defects in child-bearing women.

Take home message is, avoid folate fortified wheat flour or foods if you do not intend to get pregnant.  Folate is found high in many green leafy vegetables and eating vegetables alone can provide sufficient folate for all food consumers.  Folate supplements are only needed for those who do not eat sufficient folate rich vegetables.