Folate May Reduce Ovarian Cancer Risk

STOCKHOLM, Sweden--Consuming high levels of dietary folate may reduce the risk of developing ovarian cancer, according to Swedish researchers (J Natl Cancer Inst, 96, 5:396-402, 2004) ( jncicancerspectrum.oupjournals.org). The protective effect may be even more pronounced in women who consume more than two alcoholic beverages per week.

Approximately 61,000 women between the ages of 38 and 76 who were free of ovarian cancer at the beginning of the study were followed for an average of 3.5 years; dietary folate was measured by questionnaire. During the follow-up period, 266 subjects developed ovarian cancer. Researchers found women who consumed the highest level of dietary folate had a 33-percent reduced risk of developing ovarian cancer compared to women who consumed the lowest level. Women with a high folate intake who consumed more than two alcoholic beverages per week (more than 20 g of alcohol) had an even lower risk--74-percent lower--compared to women with a high folate intake who consumed lesser amounts of alcohol, who had no reduction in risk.