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Date: | Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:19:57 -0600 |
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Hi all,
I found this most interesting development (see below) from http://www.f1000medicine.com/html/about/medicine/press/update3a.html
. Would it be nice if the same kind of thinking (ie "can we justify
the exposure of the whole population") applied to the mandatory
supplementation with Vit D because of a few at-risk babies?
Nicole Bernshaw
Rethinking Folic Acid Fortification
As far back as 1931, the benefits of folic acid were first highlighted
when pregnant women were encouraged to take supplements in order to
prevent anaemia. Subsequent years led to the discovery of further
possible health benefits of the supplement and, in 1998, the US made
folic acid fortification mandatory in order to reduce the incidence of
neural tube defects (NTDs).
However, as pointed out in a recent study highlighted this month
byYoung-In Kim of the Gastroenterology & Hepatology Faculty, the
fortification coincided with an increase in incidences of colorectal
cancer. Young-In explains that the "The most serious adverse effect of
folic acid supplementation and fortification is the tumor-promoting
effect on the progression of (pre)neoplastic lesions."
He asks: "can we justify the exposure of the whole population to a
substance that undoubtedly prevents a proportion of cases of
relatively rare diseases but may increase the risk of much more common
diseases?" and concludes by saying that: "Future debate and decision
regarding folic acid fortification should take into consideration all
potential adverse effects and dose-response of such a measure because
it may be associated with potentially very serious consequences for
many generations. In addition to careful monitoring of adverse
effects, preclinical and population-based studies are warranted to
determine efficacy, safety, and potential deleterious effects of folic
acid fortification and supplementation on cancer risk and other health
outcomes."
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