Folate status and colorectal cancer risk: a 2016 update

Authors: MASON, JOEL - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University; TANG, SAN YUAN - University Of South China

Submitted to: Molecular Aspects of Medicine
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/23/2016
Publication Date: 11/24/2016
Citation: Mason, J.B., Tang, S. 2016. Folate status and colorectal cancer risk: a 2016 update. Molecular Aspects of Medicine. doi: 10.1016/j.mam.2016.11.010.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The consensus of epidemiologic evidence indicates that an abundant intake of foodstuffs rich in folate conveys protection against the development of colorectal cancer, and perhaps some other common cancers as well. Pre-clinical models substantiate that the relationship is a genuinely causal one. Pre-clinical models have also lent mechanistic insights into the biochemical and molecular pathways by which adequate folate exposure conveys these protective effects, and human studies are beginning to confirm the relevance of this mechanistic understanding to human cancer biology. Enhancement of genetic stability appears to be a major mechanism by which folate sufficiency protects against carcinogenesis. To date, the Wnt signaling cascade has been the pathway most examined in this regard. The relationship between folate exposure and colorectal cancer risk is a complex one, in part because a number of extrinsic and intrinsic factors act as effect modifiers. This review discusses how the intake of the other three B-vitamins integral to the 1-carbon pathway acts as one such effect modifier. In addition, two concepts that remain matters of considerable debate are whether parental intake of folate impacts on subsequent cancer risk in the offspring, and whether excessive intakes of folate may have a paradoxical cancer-promoting effect: observations underlying these two concepts are presented as well.