Folic acid and diseases - supplement it or not?

folic acid is a water soluble vitamin, which is synthetically-produced and found in fortified foods and supplements. Folate is found naturally in plants, such as the dark green leafy vegetables. Folate is not synthesizedde novo by humans, therefore the daily requirements are met from the dietary intake of folic acid supplements or food rich in this vitamin. Folate deficiency could lead to numerous common health problems. Hyperhomocysteinemia and the possibility of malignancy developments are the long term consequences of this deficit albeit contradictory findings on these claims.

Methods:

the articles included in this review focused on recent updated evidence-based reports and meta-analyses on the associations of the serum folate/folic acid and the various diseases found globally.

Results:

the benefit of folic acid supplementation in the pre-conception period for the prevention of neural tube defects (NTDs) was well established and it was suggested that counseling sessions should be given to women with previous pregnancies affected by NTDs. However, supplementation of folic acid and its medicinal effects in the treatment of other diseases were contradictory and unclear.

Conclusion:

more detailed investigations into the health benefits of folic acid are needed before it could be recommended for supplementation, treatment or prevention of some of the diseases discussed in this review.

Keywords:
folic acid; homocysteine; diseases classification; dietary supplements

Diseases research reports
Hyperhomocysteinaemia: Stanger et al., 2004; Welsch et al., 1997; Homocysteine Lowering Trialists' Collaboration, 2005; Homocysteine Lowering Trialists' Collaboratio, 1998.
Coronary artery disease: Qin et al., 2012; Wang et al., 2012; de Bree et al, 2007; Miller et al., 2010; Zhou et al., 2011; Bazzano et al., 2006.
Hypertension: McRae, 2009; Cagnacci et al., 2014; Béchir et al.,2005; Forman et al., 2005.
Stroke: Yang et al., 2012; Wang et al., 2007; Huo et al., 2012; Lee et al., 2010.
Diabetes: Sudchada et al., 2012; Title et al., 2006; Xu et al., 2012; Schneider et al., 2014; Fotiou et al., 2014; Yilmaz et al., 2013; Negrão et al., 2014; Parker et al., 2013.
Pregnancy: Imdad et al., 2011; Grosse and Collins ,2007; Peake et al., 2013; Charles et al., 2005; Lassi et al., 2013; Fekete et al., 2012; De-Regil et al., 2010; Jian et al., 2009.
Cancers:
Prostate: Wien et al., 2012; Collin, 2013; Rycyna, 2013; Jeffrey et al.,2014; Tio et al., 2014.
Colorectal: Paspatis et al., 1995; Paspatis et al., 1994; Carroll et al.,2010; Figueiredo et al., 2011; Castillo-Lancellotti et al., 2012; Keum and Giovannucci, 2014; Kennedy et al., 2011; Ryan et al., 2001; Giovannucci et al., 1995; Takata et al., 2014.
Pancreatic: Bao et al., 2011; Oaks et al., 2011; Skinner et al., 2004; Lin et al., 2013; Keszei et al., 2009; Stolzenberg-Solomon et al., 2001; Larsson et al., 2006.
Breast: Larsson et al., 2007; Stolzenberg-Solomon et al., 2006; Chen e tal., 2014; Zhang et al., 2014; Deghan Manshadi et al., 2014.
Leukaemia: Ajrouche et al., 2014; Lupo et al., 2014; Jain et al., 2014.
Lung: Dai et al., 2013; Shen et al., 2003; Bandera et al., 1997; Slatore et al., 2008; Marchand et al., 2002; Neuhouser et al., 2003; Yang et al., 2013.
Kidney diseases: Qin et al., 2011; Jardine et al., 2012.
Neurology: Schneider et al., 2006; Castillo Lancellotti et al., 2012.
Childhood asthma: Zetstra-van der Woude et al., 2014; Crider et al.,2013.

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[1] *Correspondence: Address: Jalan Jalil Perkasa, 19 - 126, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Postal code: 57000.siawcheok_liew@imu.edu.my