[Lani]

Increased folate may slash breast cancer risk [FoodNavigator.com Europe]
09/08/2007 - An increased consumption of folate may reduce the risk of breast cancer by 44 per cent, says a new study from Sweden.
Writing in the current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the researchers state that fruit and vegetables may be a better option to increase folate consumption, and raise questions about folic acid fortification.
"Sweden has not yet come to a decision concerning the mandatory folic acid fortification of foods," wrote the authors, led by Ulrika Ericson from Lund University.
"With regard to the contradictory results from different studies, including an American study that indicated an increased risk at total intakes much higher than in our study an increased consumption of fruit and vegetables would be a safer way to increase folate intakes."
Folate is found in foods such as green leafy vegetables, chick peas and lentils, and an overwhelming body of evidence links has linked folate deficiency in early pregnancy to increased risk of neural tube defects (NTD) - most commonly spina bifida and anencephaly - in infants.
The researchers investigated if there was an association between folate intake and invasive breast cancer risk in 11,699 postmenopausal women over the age of 50. Dietary assessments were done at the start of the study using seven-day diet records, a 168-item food-frequency questionnaire, and an interview about dietary habits.
After 9.5 years of follow-up, 392 cases of breast cancer had been diagnosed. The average folate intake for the women was 238 micrograms per day, and 19 per cent of subjects used folic acid supplements.
The researchers calculated that women in the highest average intake group (456 micrograms of folate per day) had a 44 per cent lower risk of invasive breast cancer than women in the lowest average intake group (160 micrograms of folate per day).
The benefits were still observed after the researchers took into account the intake of other B vitamins, age, physical activity, smoking, alcohol use, and the use of hormone replacement therapy.
However, when the women were divided into normal weight women (BMI of less 25 kg per sq. m) and overweight women (BMI of more than 25), the researchers report that the protective effect of folate only applied to the overweight women.
"Our findings of an association between high folate intake and lower breast cancer incidence confirm the biological hypothesis that low intakes of folate enhance the development of breast cancer," wrote the researchers.