So where is all this synthetic folic acid coming from? The
high dose of synthetic, folic acid now seen in our food supply is actually a
direct result of the action of the US government. The 20th century
brought the massive introduction of processed and refined grain products (white
flour) to the American food supply. These new refined grain products were
stripped of their natural vitamins and soon deficiencies, including folate-deficiency,
became more common. Folate deficiency
during pregnancy can result in neural tube defects, including anencephaly and
spina bifida. In efforts to prevent these devastating birth defects, the US
office of Public Health Services recommended that all women of child-bearing
age consume at least 400 mcg of folate per day. In addition, the FDA passed
legislation in 1998 that required all refined grain products to be fortified
with folic acid. Since the mandate, the US Center for Disease Control (CDC)
estimates that the resulting decrease in neural tube defect births was nearly
26% [1].
Unfortunately due to the massive consumption of refined grains in the US as
well as the overuse of folic acid by food manufacturers, many Americans are
getting considerably more than the RDA for folate from their food intake.
Combine that with the fact that foods fortified with folic acid provide nearly
1.7 times the folic acid activity as natural folate (supplements with folic
acid provide nearly double the activity), and it is clear that Americans are
consuming higher bioactive levels of folate than ever before [2].
So what’s the concern with too much folic acid? Folate in
its natural form supports healthy cell replication and is seen as beneficial in
the prevention of cancer. Folic acid however, with its artificial, high
bioactivity in the body, may actually encourage the growth of unhealthy cells. A
2009 study published in The
Journal of the American Medical Association found that high dose
supplementation with folic acid among patients with heart disease found a
significant increase in cancer, particularly lung cancer [3].
There also appears to be a connection between high-dose folic acid
supplementation and prostate cancer risk in men. [4] In
addition, since the introduction of fortification with folic acid, an increase
in colorectal cancer has been observed in the US and other countries with
similar guidelines. Many researchers believe there could be a connection [5].
While most nutrition software programs only analyze total
vitamin intake, Woojabooty allows its users to determine which form of folate
their diet is providing. By differentiating whole food sources of folate from
processed and fortified foods, Woojabooty helps you to meet your daily folate
needs and avoid dangerously high levels of folic acid. By emphasizing health
and food quality, Woojabooty provides users with an exceptional level of
insight into overall wellness while they achieve their weight-management goals.
by Clair Dainard
REFERENCES
1. Spina bifida and anencephaly before and after folic acid mandate--United States, 1995-1996 and 1999-2000. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2004;53(17):362-365.
2. Bailey LB. Dietary reference intakes for folate: the debut of dietary folate equivalents. Nutr Rev. 1998;56(10):294-299.
3. Ebbing, M. et al. Cancer Incidence and Mortality After Treatment With Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 JAMA. 2009;302(19):2119-2126. Doi
4. Figueiredo, JC; et al"Folic Acid and Risk of Prostate Cancer: Results From a Randomized Clinical Trial".Journal of the National Cancer Institute, (2009). 101 (6): 432–5.
5. Hirsch S, et al.Colon cancer in Chile before and after the start of the flour fortification program with folic acid. Eur J Gastronererol Hepatol 2009 Apr;21(4):436-9.
