Folic acid doesn’t avert colon cancer
From Times wire reports
High doses of folic acid do not prevent precancerous colon polyps in people prone to them and may actually increase the risk of developing the growths, a new study finds.
The results surprised scientists. Previous studies showed that diets low in folic acid led to a higher risk of colon cancer.
Now researchers speculate that some folic acid helps -- as long as the colon is free of microscopic cancer cells. But once cancer starts, folic acid may feed its growth.
The new findings appeared in the June 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Assn.
