[djl]

I love Poseidon, but do have occasional concerns. The latest concern:


Any thoughts to this Harvard Med School statement:

Multivitamin and cancer risk

Nutraplanet has Folic Acid as the 2nd ingredient of Poseidon Complex.


One recent study has demonstrated that high folic or folate levels when combined with low B12 levels are associated with significant cognitive impairment among the elderly (M.S. Morris et al, "Folate and vitamin B12 status in relation to anemia, macrocytosis, and cognitive impairment in older Americans in the age of folic acid fortification”, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Jan 2007)


Just curious on folks thoughts, thanks!

[Wanderlei]

Those studies imply that folate can mask b12 deficiency hence the concern not to exceed 1000mg. But the Poseidon complex has a sufficient amount of b12 so I don't see a cause for concern.

[djl]

I don't have access to the full article, just the press-release, so I hope you're correct, but I'm not so sure...

The fact that Harvard Medical School is recommending men entirely give up multis until "until scientists solve the puzzle of folic acid and cancer." is a cause for concern for me.

Unless the problem is a lot more than simply masking B12 deficiency, I wouldn't imagine that they'd recommend tossing out the entire baby with the bath water.

Aside from the small supplement companies this could affect (small, but good!), it can negatively impact very large corporations involving LOTS and Lots and lots of money. I imagine those corporations will be sicking their spin-meisters on this press release pronto.

[Wanderlei]

Delving into the matter further it appears that folic acid can be a dual edged sword. On one hand it appears to lower the incidence of cancer by perhaps preventing DNA damage. But it can also exacerbate the growth rate of cancer.

I don't have the full article at hand either but the preseer states the following:

More convincingly, studies have linked high intakes of folic acid to colon polyps, the precursors of colorectal cancer. Researchers speculate that high intakes of folic acid, which was first added to grain products in the 1990s, may have contributed to an increase in colorectal cancers in the mid-1990s.

They correlate the addition of folic acid to grain to increased cancer rates and thus imply causation. One can clearly punches holes with their conclusion. Aspartame, Sucralose or any number of checmicals could have also been introduced widely into the food supply around the time too. And surely they must have at least one clinical study where they introduced high levels of folic acid to a cell line or organism whereby it increased cancer. But apparently they don't so their conclusion and recommendations are tenuous at best.

It does appear the folic acid will exacerbate but not necessarily initiate cancer.

from http://www.jyi.org/news/nb.php?id=307

...For their Trojan horse, the researchers created a nanoparticle called a dendrimer. The dendrimer nanoparticles have an anti-cancer drug, methotrexate, bound to folic acid to make them attractive to the cancer cell. As cancer cells divide abnormally fast, they need a large amount of folic acid and so produce more folate receptors on their surface. Cancer cells gladly take the dendrimer bait. As the folic acid is internalized, the dendrimer also releases methotrexate, a drug that kills the cells.

"The differential expression of folate receptors in cancer cells compared with normal cells allows the dendrimer to provide more specific delivery [of methotrexate], " says Kukowska-Latello, a researcher at the University of Michigan and co-inventor of the dendrimer.
...

As a result of the presented info and vast more out there, I don't see a great cause for concern that would cease my use of folic acid. There is quite a bit of info out there regarding the matter though so you can draw your own conclusions. As with any supplement you must weigh the benefits and potential risks and decide for yourself if it's worth taking.

[prld2gr8ns]

Originally Posted by Wanderlei

Delving into the matter further it appears that folic acid can be a dual edged sword. On one hand it appears to lower the incidence of cancer by perhaps preventing DNA damage. But it can also exacerbate the growth rate of cancer.

I don't have the full article at hand either but the preseer states the following:


They correlate the addition of folic acid to grain to increased cancer rates and thus imply causation. One can clearly punches holes with their conclusion. Aspartame, Sucralose or any number of checmicals could have also been introduced widely into the food supply around the time too. And surely they must have at least one clinical study where they introduced high levels of folic acid to a cell line or organism whereby it increased cancer. But apparently they don't so their conclusion and recommendations are tenuous at best.

It does appear the folic acid will exacerbate but not necessarily initiate cancer.

As a result of the presented info and vast more out there, I don't see a great cause for concern that would cease my use of folic acid. There is quite a bit of info out there regarding the matter though so you can draw your own conclusions. As with any supplement you must weigh the benefits and potential risks and decide for yourself if it's worth taking.

That's essentially the basis of a number of macronutrients like b12, folate, methionine and basically any nutrient involved in cell mitosis and dna replication. Their the parts that make the factory work. If the factory is making the right products then more power to it, if it's making a faulty product(ala dna mutations leading to cancer cell formation), then the potential for exasperation could be present. Good posting Wanderlei

[Colden]

Originally Posted by djl

I love Poseidon, but do have occasional concerns. The latest concern:


Any thoughts to this Harvard Med School statement:

Multivitamin and cancer risk

Nutraplanet has Folic Acid as the 2nd ingredient of Poseidon Complex.


One recent study has demonstrated that high folic or folate levels when combined with low B12 levels are associated with significant cognitive impairment among the elderly (M.S. Morris et al, "Folate and vitamin B12 status in relation to anemia, macrocytosis, and cognitive impairment in older Americans in the age of folic acid fortification”, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Jan 2007)


Just curious on folks thoughts, thanks!

Our labels got printed alphabetically instead of by ingredient. we are in the process of correcting them. The folic Acid quantity is 2 mcg per serving.

[djl]

Originally Posted by Colden

Our labels got printed alphabetically instead of by ingredient. we are in the process of correcting them. The folic Acid quantity is 2 mcg per serving.

THANKS!!! That's awesome, now my hypochondriac mind doesn't need to worry.


It's all good!

[prld2gr8ns]

Originally Posted by djl

THANKS!!! That's awesome, now my hypochondriac mind doesn't need to worry.


It's all good!

Ahhh, let Colden bring peace to the land.