Folate and global health umbrella review series, part 2: syntheses on cancers - PubMed
9 hours ago
- #Folate
- #Global Health
- #Cancer Research
- Folate's role in one-carbon metabolism impacts DNA/RNA synthesis, methylation, and genomic integrity, influencing carcinogenesis.
- Evidence on folate and cancer risk is mixed: deficiency may increase risk, while high-dose supplementation could have adverse effects.
- The study reviewed 67 syntheses (57 with meta-analyses) on folate's association with various cancers, finding high risk of bias in over half.
- Highly suggestive evidence links folate to oesophageal, colorectal, childhood brain/spinal tumours, and total cancers.
- Limited evidence for most cancers except colorectal, oesophageal, and childhood CNS cancers; prostate cancer signals need further research.
- The review calls for more robust primary studies to clarify folate's relationship with cancer risks.