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Folic Acid May Raise Prostate Cancer Risk
March 10, 2009 -- There is mounting evidence that folic acid, taken in high doses, does not protect against cancer and may even promote certain cancers.
Nearly two years ago, a major study found that high doses of folic acid in supplement form failed to protect against colon cancer.
Now, another analysis of the same study's findings suggests a link between folic acid supplements and an increased risk for prostate cancer.
Men in the study who took high doses of the vitamin had a more than twofold increase in prostate cancer risk, compared to men who did not take folic acid supplements.
There were too few prostate cancers among the study participants to prove that folic acid promotes prostate cancer, Jane C. Figueiredo, PhD, of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles tells WebMD.
“What we can say is that a lot of folate is unlikely to be beneficial with regard to prostate cancer, and it just might be harmful,” she says.
Folic Acid and Prostate Cancer
The current study included 643 men originally recruited for a much larger study designed to determine if taking aspirin and a folic acid supplement could reduce the incidence of colon polyps.
The men were randomly assigned to placebo or supplements with daily low-dose aspirin and 1 milligram of folic acid daily -- two and a half times the recommended daily dose of the vitamin for men and for women who are not pregnant or nursing.
Aspirin alone was found to have no significant effect on prostate cancer incidence, but taking folic acid was found to increase the risk for prostate cancer by 163%.
The analysis joins a growing number of studies suggesting that nutritional supplements are of no benefit for preventing cancer.
In an accompanying editorial, two cancer and nutrition experts concluded that “the prospects for cancer prevention through micronutrient supplementation have never looked worse.”
Large trials have shown no protective benefit in people taking multivitamins, selenium, beta-carotene, and vitamins E, C, D, B6, and B12.
Beta-carotene, taken in high doses, has even been shown to promote lung cancers in heavy smokers.
“The primary lesson from our experience in the nutritional prevention of cancer is that it is not simple,” write Alan R. Kristal, MD, of Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Scott Lippman, MD, of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
The study and editorial appear in the March 18 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Popping Pills Doesn’t Work
Kristal and Lippman write that it made sense to study single micronutrients early on because numerous studies had found that eating a healthy diet with plenty of micronutrient-rich fruits and vegetables can help protect against certain cancers.
But it is increasingly clear that if the foods we eat influence our cancer risk, the relationship is too complex to break down to single nutrients.
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Indication
Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl 10 mg extended-release tablets) is an alpha1-blocker for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH.
Important Safety Information
Do not take UROXATRAL if you have liver problems or if you are taking antifungal drugs like ketoconazole or itraconazole, or HIV drugs like ritonavir.
UROXATRAL can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially when starting treatment. This may lead to fainting, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do any dangerous activity until you know how UROXATRAL will affect you. This is especially important if you already have a problem with low blood pressure or take medicines to treat high blood pressure. There may be an increased risk of low blood pressure and fainting when taking UROXATRAL in combination with blood pressure medication or nitrates, or erectile dysfunction medication.
If considering cataract surgery (clouding of the eyes), tell your eye surgeon that you are currently taking UROXATRAL or have previously been treated with an alpha-blocker.
Before taking UROXATRAL, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems.
Also, tell your doctor if you or any family member(s) have or take medications for a rare heart condition known as congenital prolongation of the QT interval.
BPH and prostate cancer can cause the same symptoms. However, UROXATRAL is not a treatment for prostate cancer.
The most common side effects with UROXATRAL are dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and tiredness.
Please see UROXATRAL full prescribing information.
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