Disease Proof : Disease Proof : Health & Nutrition News & Commentary : Dr. Joel Fuhrman

Folic acid supplementation is dangerous – especially for pregnant women

In a 10-year study,^1,2 scientists found that women who take multivitamins containing folic acid increase their breast cancer risk by 20-30%.

Even more alarming are the associations between supplemental folic acid during pregnancy and death from breast cancer,⁸ and asthma and respiratory tract infections in children.^5-6

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Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate, a B vitamin, which is abundant in green vegetables. Folate protects against birth defects known as neural tube defects (NTDs). Pregnant women could safely increase their folate status and prevent NTDs by eating green vegetables, but instead they are instructed to take folic acid supplements, putting them and their children at risk. Folic acid supplements are not a substitute for folate-containing green vegetables – there are inverse associations between maternal vegetable intake and childhood cancers.^12-13

Unlike synthetic folic acid, folate obtained from food sources – especially green vegetables – protects against breast and prostate cancer.

There is inverse relationship between dietary folate intake and breast and prostate cancer.^14,3 Chemical differences between folate and folic acid translate into differences in uptake and processing of these two substances by the cells in the intestinal wall – excess folic acid in the circulation can occur. Luckily, folate from food comes naturally packaged in balance with other micronutrients and the body regulates its absorption.⁹

Rich sources of food folate

As a reference point, the U.S. RDA for folate is 400μg. Below is the approximate folate content for a 100-calorie serving.⁸

Additional foods listed in full article

Clearly, we do not need synthetic folic acid supplements to meet our daily folate requirements.

Dr. Fuhrman’s Gentle Care Formula Multivitamin does not contain folic acid

Supplemental folic acid has also been linked to prostate cancer³, colorectal cancer⁴, and overall cancer mortality.⁷ Because folate is abundant in the nutritarian diet, and synthetic folic acid is so potentially dangerous, folic acid is not included in Dr. Fuhrman’s Gentle Care multivitamin.

Dr. Fuhrman does not recommend prenatal vitamins because of the potentially harmful ingredients, such as folic acid.

Dr. Fuhrman’s special recommendations for pregnant women:

• Gentle Care Formula
• Osteo-Sun
• Iron supplementation (approx. 30 mg/day when needed)
• DHA Purity
• A nutrient dense diet, rich in green vegetables (and folate)

(See full article for references)

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Recovering your health comes in many forms. Some people, like ReBecca, drop an astonishing 300 pounds and others, like Jodi, overcome chronic skin rashes. Now take Irene, she changed her life and reversed the progression of stage-4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma:

When first I tasted a “blended salad” I lost my interest in eating altogether. But, now I actually look forward to my high-nutrition meals. In addition to prescribing this new way of eating, Dr. Fuhrman also recommended certain supplements that would best complement my eating regimen, such as Osteo-Sun, and Gentle-Care multi-vitamins.

I lost about 35 to 40 pounds in the first three months of eating for life. My cholesterol level dropped from 238 to 164! My other blood readings as well were excellent and have remained so, although I gained about 12 of those pounds back, where my weight has stabilized. And, in visit after visit to the oncologist, it did not seem that my disease was advancing beyond the original tumor that was located in my groin.

After 2-1/2 years of talking about the possibility of undergoing systemic chemotherapy, the doctor decided to use local radiation on that tumor as the preferred treatment of my disease, even though original tests had proved that I was a stage 4 case. The tumor melted away, and has not returned. In fact, no signs of the disease have been detected since…continue reading.

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A new report by ConsumerLab.com discovered many multivitamins either contain significantly more or less of an ingredient than they claim and some are even contaminated with lead. Scientists tested several products, including three for children, and found many exceeded tolerable limits of certain vitamins, such as vitamin A, folic acid, niacin and zinc, which can cause health risks like liver damage and bone-weakening. And a vitamin water examined had 15 times the amount folic acid stated; Reuters reports.

Our society loves magic pills and we forget foods like fruits and veggies are loaded with healthful nutrients. For example, broccoli is packed with vitamin K, which fights prostate cancer. Eating seeds and nuts helps prevent type-2 diabetes. And greens like Bok Choy contain compounds that neutralize harmful free radicals and protect against cancer.

In related news, a recent study showed high-dose beta-carotene may raise lung cancer risk. That’s why Dr. Fuhrman’s multi does not contain things like isolated beta-carotene, vitamin A and copper, which have be linked to cancer, birth defects and liver problems.

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No, no! Don’t mess with my sperm. A new study in the journal Fertility and Sterility reveals diets low in antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables and high processed meats and full-fat dairy heighten risk of low-quality sperm. The study involved 61 men visiting a fertility clinic. Of the participants, half had poor sperm quality. Those men also had a higher intake of meat and dairy, but the other half of men had normal sperm counts and tended to eat more fruits and vegetables. Experts cite increased levels of antioxidants, like vitamin C and lycopene, for better sperm; Reuters investigates.

Antioxidants are like Superman and Batman rolled up in one. Take blueberries, they’re packed with healthful nutrients, like flavonoids, which are associated with cancer prevention and plants like broccoli protect against things such as respiratory inflammation and stroke, while antioxidant-devoid foods like hotdogs and bacon may lead to leukemia and raise lung cancer risk.

The bad news for meat keeps piling up. Just last month, a study linked processed meat to increased death risk, as high as 50% and recently red meat was pinned to blindness. Eek!

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• First lady Michelle Obama loves steamed broccoli and is emerging as a champion of healthy eating, praising community vegetable gardens and unprocessed and locally raised food and recently opening up the White House kitchen to show onlookers her chefs’ prowess with vegetables; The New York Times reports.

• Next time you’re feeling blue. Keep this in mind. Presented at this year’s American Psychosomatic Society's annual meeting, researchers believe optimists live longer. Optimists were 14% less likely to die from any cause and 30% less likely to die from heart disease than pessimists; via Reuters.

• Don’t have neck fat either. This study, reported at the American Heart Association's Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention annual conference, claim larger neck circumference, i.e. a fat neck, is closely associated with known risk factors of disease, such as cholesterol and diabetes; from HealthDay News.

• Teenagers need more vitamin D! Discussed at an American Heart Association conference, findings reveal adolescents with low levels of vitamin D had increased risk of high blood pressure and high blood sugar and are 4 times more likely to develop metabolic syndrome; the Associated Press explains.

• Reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, some experts believe we’re over-diagnosing prostate cancer, suggesting that standard PSA screening tests indentify too slow-growing tumors that’ll never develop into a cancer threat; via The Washington Post.

• The ozone layer keeps us from burning up in the sun, but when it makes landfall it can kill you. New research in the New England Journal of Medicine has determined people exposed to ozone are 25% to 30% more likely to die from lung disease than individuals living in areas with cleaner air; Reuters reports.

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Good news! The word “antioxidant” seems to resonate with consumers. New research in the journal Food Quality and Preference shows people associate words such as “fiber” and “antioxidants” with healthiness and willingness to try a product. Women and old people reacted the most positively to antioxidant-rich foods and both young and older people were interested in a products disease-preventing claims, especially in the short-term; NutraIngredients reports.

Fruits and vegetables are prime sources of antioxidants. Just last month, nutrients in blueberries were found to shrink cancer tumors in lab rats and Dr. Fuhrman links plant nutrients with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

In related news, taking concentrated beta carotene, found in most multivitamins, may increase your risk of lung cancer. High-dose beta carotene supplements interfere with the absorption of cancer-fighting antioxidants. Eek!

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Published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, a new 10-year analysis of more than 77,000 adults, men and women ages 50 to 76, revealed long term use of high-dose beta carotene supplements may heighten the risk of lung cancer, especially in smokers. Scientists used questionnaires to assess participants’ intake of dietary supplements and then tracked them for the next four years. These findings mirror a 2007 study showing vitamin C and E and folate supplements do not decrease the risk of lung cancer; ScienceDaily explains.

According to Dr. Fuhrman high-dose beta carotene supplements interfere with the absorption of antioxidants, like carotenoids and other antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables. This can increase cancer-risk. That’s why Dr. Fuhrman’s formulates his vitamins without beta carotene.

But getting beta carotene from veggies is just fine! Foods like carrots, mangos and oranges, as well as leafy greens like cabbage, Bok Choy and broccoli are loaded with beta carotene and other health-protecting antioxidants and phytochemicals.

Vitamins aren’t magic pills! Previous reports show vitamins alone can’t prevent heart disease or prostate cancer, i.e. a bacon cheese burger with a side of Centrum Silver isn’t healthy.

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Pancreatic cancer is a killer. But veggies kill back! New findings in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute shows glucosinolates, a phytochemical found in broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and other green vegetables, help fight pancreatic cancer. Our bodies metabolize glucosinolates into isothiocyanates. And exposing cancer cells to benzyl isothiocyanate kills them by reducing STAT-3 protein, which promotes the survival and rapid reproduction of cancer cells; Nutraingredients explains.

Green vegetables are prime cancer-fighters. The phytochemicals in foods like kale, bok choy, collard greens, arugala, and watercress halt the growth of breast cancer, inhibit the progression of lung cancer, cut the risk of colon cancer and phytonutrients also prevent toxins from damaging our DNA.

And in July, a report came out showing isothiocyanates help protect against prostate cancer too.

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A new study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine claims phosphates, a common food additive, may help speed the growth of lung cancer tumors. Testing in mice determined phosphates, often found in soda and processed cheese and meat may also cause tumors. Researchers say phosphates are critical to human nutrition, but eating too much can be dangerous. In the 1990s adults consumed about 470 mg of phosphorous per day, but now they can reach 1,000 mg a day; Reuters investigates.

Another reason to avoid processed foods is they often contain harmful trans fat and cancer-causing compounds called acrylamides. Eek! 

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I thought it was important for me to construct a public reply to a recent medical study that reported both high cholesterol and low cholesterol were associated with higher cancer rates because too many people are still confused about this, including the scientific research community. This is because so few people have performed a comprehensive, in-depth review of the scientific research on nutrition and cancer, so they base their decisions on a narrow and incorrect interpretation of the literature. This recent article and the comments by the media and even by physicians and scientists illustrate pervasive ignorance and confusion about human nutrition.

The study in question was published in the August 26th issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).1 It showed that people whose LDL cholesterol was below 2.8 mmol/L (109) had a higher risk of certain cancers (primarily lymphatic and blood cancers) and people whose LDL cholesterol was above 3.9 mmol/L (152) had a higher risk of certain cancers (primarily breast and digestive tract) as well.

My book, Cholesterol Protection For Life, covered this issue in more depth. In it, I explained that certain illnesses, especially cancer, lower cholesterol levels by decreasing the liver’s ability to produce cholesterol and that having a low cholesterol in spite of an unhealthy (high) cholesterol-promoting diet could be an early sign of an undiagnosed cancer. The types of cancers that have been reported to cause low cholesterol levels include lung, liver, lymphatic and hematopoietic cancer, the same cancers associated with low cholesterol in this study.2

My book, Disease-Proof Your Child, reviews the science and explains that cancer is predominantly caused many, many years before it first appears (over 40 years) and that cancerous cells are present in the body for over 10 years prior to diagnosis, when the clump of cancerous cells eventually become large enough to be viewed by the human eye or when the first signs or symptoms appear. This study only followed people for less than 5 years. They recorded the cancers that occurred in the last 2½ years of the study.

The findings were not surprising, but consistent with the main body of literature on this subject. We would expect people who are eating a diet that promotes high cholesterol would have higher cancer rates, because the same diet-style that promotes high cholesterol and heart disease also promotes cancer. We would also expect to find that very low cholesterol was also associated with more cancers occurring because some people in the cohort would have undiagnosed (occult, early stage) cancer that would eventually become diagnosed in the last 2½ years of the study. Their low cholesterol was a sign of early (undiagnosed) cancer, not a cause of their cancer. These people have low cholesterol in spite of not earning low cholesterol with nutritional excellence. Their cancer caused the low cholesterol, not the other way around.

What I stated in Cholesterol Protection For Life is that a low cholesterol that is earned through adherence to a diet rich in vegetables, beans, seeds, nuts and other health-promoting foods will protect you against heart attacks and cancers, however if you have a very low cholesterol that you did not earn via healthy living and a healthy diet, it might be a sign that a disease is present that lowers cholesterol, such as cancer.

To conclude, don’t be alarmed if your cholesterol is low, if you have earned it. Low cholesterol earned through high vegetable consumption and a micronutrient rich diet is linked to protection against all cancers, and populations eating a vegetable-centered-diet earn low cholesterol levels and have dramatically lower rates of cancers along with lower heart disease rates.3 This does not have to be such a confusing subject. Its simple, the prescription is nutrition for improved health and a longer life!

To learn more, check out DiseaseProof's cancer and cholesterol catagories or visit the library at DrFuhrman.com.

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