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2007-7-16 19:24:48 |
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A new study conducted in China suggests that low serum folate levels may make people more susceptible to development of liver cancer. Early animal studies have already showed that low folate levels may play a role in liver damage and liver cancer development. The current study by Tania M. Welzel from the Department of Health and Human Services and colleagues from other organizations meant to examine the association between folate levels in the blood and risks of liver damage and liver cancer. For the study, the researchers followed 415 Chinese people from a population at high risk of liver cancer in the Haimen City of China, who carried hepatitis B surface antigen. When entering the study between 1998 and 2002, participants were tested for serum and RBC folate levels. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and hepatitis B virus DNA were also measured semiannually. The researchers found a statistically significant inverse association between serum folate levels and ALT. Those who were in the quartile with highest serum folate levels had 14 percent lower ALT, compared to those who were in the lowest quartile. Among 412 participants (other three were excluded as they had prevalent hepatocellular carcinoma), 20 developed liver cancer during the 4-year follow-up. Those who were in the quartile with highest RBC folate were 67 less likely to develop liver cancer than those who were in the lowest quartile. Welzel and colleagues conclude "This study suggests that increased folate levels in humans may be inversely associated with the development of liver damage and HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma)." Folate is present largely in plant foods such as spinach, asparagus, lentile, lima beans, bread, pasta, rice and animal meat does not have as much of this nutrient if there is any. Low folate in those who were at high risk of liver cancer may suggest they used too little plant foods, which further suggests that they may use too much animal-derived foods. Early rarely publicized observational studies linked high intake of meat with increased risk of liver cancer. In Asia, liver cancer is more commonly found in the rich people who eat more meat than the poor people who eat more plant foods. A scientist affiliated with foodconsumer.org who did not want to be named suggested that although the possibility can not be excluded that folate may have a direct impact on the risk of liver cancer, the hidden fact that those Chinese people who were at high risk of liver cancer may be impacted by the high amounts of meat they ate. Dr. Colin T Campbell, a distinguished nutrition professor from Cornell University, authored a book titled "China Study" detailing how animal proteins may make the liver more susceptible to the damage by toxic chemicals and hepatitis virus. Regardless, people need to take enough folate or folic acid, preferably from natural foods as this nutrient if nothing else is important to the human health, the foodconsumer.org scientist suggested. Copyright 2007 foodconsumer.org. All right reserved. This article can be used by individuals and organizations for non-commercial use without prior express permission from foodconsumer.org on condition that this article including the author ane this copyright note should be used in entirety without alteration. |
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