Folic Acid Reduces Neuroblastoma Rates in Canada

TORONTO--Folic acid fortification in Canada was associated with a 60-percent reduction in the occurrence of neuroblastoma, a malignant childhood brain tumor that tends to metastasize, according to researchers at the University of Toronto. Their research was published in the September issue of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (74, 3:288-94, 2003) (www.harcourthealth.com/cpt).

Researchers used data gathered by the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario, which records 95 percent of all pediatric cancers in Ontario, before and after folic acid fortification was introduced into the Canadian food supply. An analysis of the data showed neuroblastoma declined from 1.57 cases per 10,000 births before fortification to .62 cases per 10,000 births afterwards. However, folic acid fortification was not shown to reduce the rates of two other childhood cancers, infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia or hepatoblastoma. Researchers concluded further investigation is needed to elucidate the role of metabolism in the formation and prevention of neuroblastoma and other embryonic cancers.

Previous research also showed a benefit of nutrition against neuroblastoma, although in a less specific sense. Researchers at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, compared data from 1,042 children (538 cases, 504 controls) and found daily vitamin and mineral use by the mother during pregnancy reduced neuroblastoma risk by 30 percent to 40 percent (Epidemiology, 13, 5:575-80, 2002).