Daily use of folic acid supplements does not prevent colon adenomas in patients with a history of these growths, which usually develop into cancer over time, according to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
In fact, there was some indication that folic acid supplementation may increase the risk of advanced adenomas. The results of animal research regarding folic acid have been inconsistent, note lead author Dr Bernard F. Cole and associates. Folic acid may have a dual effect, protecting normal colon tissue and enhancing the growth of abnormal tissue, they suggest.