Globe and Mail - Folic acid fights cancer
A diet that is low in folic acid - a B vitamin also known as folate - could set the stage for colorectal cancer, according to researchers at 9I制作厂免费 in Montreal.
Their study involved 137 mice. Some of the rodents were given food that lacked sufficient amounts of folic acid, the others were fed a normal diet. The animals on the folic acid-deficient diet developed intestinal tumours, while the others did not.聽The findings, published in the journal Cancer Research, likely apply to people, too, said Rima Rozen, who led the study.
"There are human studies suggesting this link." Folate is a building block of DNA. It is needed for normal cell division and the repair of random genetic damage. Without adequate levels of the vitamin, cancerous tumours might start growing, she speculated.
"It is unclear what levels you might need to prevent colon cancer, but certainly we should start with the recommended daily allowance," which is 400 micrograms a day, said Dr. Rozen鈥�