INDEPENDENT NEWS

Folic acid supplements not always of benefit

Published: Wed 3 Apr 2013 11:46 AM
Folic acid supplements not always of benefit
Taking folic acid supplements in early pregnancy plays an important role in preventing spina bifida. There are some health conditions in which folic acid also has some benefits, but experts warn that its role in cancer is unclear.
Writing in the April edition of Australian Prescriber, rheumatologists Dr Serena Parker, Dr Patrick Hanrahan and Dr Claire Barrett say that there is no clear evidence that folic acid supplements in the general population reduce the risk of heart disease, dementia or cancer. In fact, there may be evidence that they increase the risk of cancer.
Folic acid is an important B vitamin found in green leafy vegetables. It is needed for making and repairing DNA, write the authors.
The Australian Government recommends that all pregnant women take a folic acid supplement of at least 400 microgram/day and also aim for a dietary intake of 600 microgram.
Folic acid supplementation should ideally begin one month before conception and be maintained for at least three months afterwards.
There is also clear evidence that the routine use of folic acid can reduce the risk of some adverse effects in patients taking methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis.
However, the authors say that taking folic acid for heart disease or dementia has not been shown to have any benefit. There is also conflicting evidence about cancer prevention.
“There is no evidence that folic acid supplementation reduces the risk of colorectal, breast or prostate cancer,” write the authors.
"Some reported studies suggest an increased risk of breast, prostate, colorectal and endometrial cancer."
Apart from pregnancy and treatment with methotrexate, most people with a healthy diet should not need to take folic acid supplements.
To read the full article and others visit www.australianprescriber.com
Other articles in this edition of Australian Prescriber include
Sex, drugs and alcohol: drug interactions of concern to consumers
Drug-induced sexual dysfunction in men and women
Metformin: myths, misunderstandings and lessons from history
Skin glues for wound closure
People with questions about their medicine can call the NPS Medicines Line (1300 MEDICINE or 1300 633 424), Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm AEST.
ENDS.
Australian Prescriber is an independent peer-reviewed journal providing critical commentary on therapeutic topics for health professionals, particularly doctors in general practice. It is published by NPS MedicineWise, an independent, not-for-profit organisation for quality use of medicines funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Australian Prescriber is published every two months, in hard copy distributed to health professionals free of charge, and online in full text at www.australianprescriber.com

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