Folate is good, but are we getting enough?
16 October 2002
The recommended dietary intake of folate should be reviewed to take into account mounting evidence of its protective effect against cancer, say Australian scientists.
Addressing the Australian Gastroenterology Week conference in Adelaide today, CSIRO researcher Dr Michael Fenech said that the recommended dietary intake for folate should be reviewed to ensure optimal levels of folate are being consumed to minimise potential DNA damage and cancer risk.
Australian research has shown that folate and vitamin B12 reduce the risk of DNA damage, the underlying cause of cancer. A South Australian study of 18 to 32-year-olds found that 50 per cent of those who received three and a half times the recommended dietary intake of folate and vitamin B12 reduced their risk of DNA damage by 25 per cent.
The current recommended dietary intake of folate is 200-400 micrograms of folic acid per day and is based on preventing anaemia and neural tube defects. Dr Fenech’s research showed that DNA damage in young adults was minimised with 700 micrograms of folic acid per day and 7 micrograms per day of vitamin B12.
He said that higher levels of folate and vitamin B12 may also be important in people who have difficulty absorbing and metabolising vitamins, such as older people.
If there is not enough folate in the diet, the DNA code of an individual is affected, causing mutations in genes and DNA damage.
‘A lack of folate alters the gene expression pattern,’ Dr Fenech said. ‘If dietary folate is low, certain genes that are supposed to be ‘on’ are switched ‘off’, which results in genetic damage.’
‘This is particularly dangerous and well known during pregnancy, as low folate can cause neural tube defects,’ he said.
Last Reviewed: 17 October 2002
