The following extract from a study, presents a solid argument for obtaining folate from natural sources, such as green leafy vegetables, legumes, fruits eggs and milk. Taking folic acid in synthetic form appears to interfere, or unbalance B12 levels. It may be difficult to find ordinary breads, not organic, and cereals that don’t have folic acid added to them. Folic acid was added to breads and cereals to prevent neural tube defect in babies. The fact that the majority of the consumers are not pregnant, appears to have been overlooked.
A study done by” Selhub and co-authors Martha Savaria Morris, Ph.D., and Paul Jacques, D.Sc, also of the USDA HNRCA, have shown that the prevalence of anemia and cognitive impairment among U.S. elderly who are vitamin B12 deficient is much worse if this B12 deficiency is also accompanied by high blood folate rather than normal blood folate. This indicates that the worsening of the vitamin B12 deficiency, as indicated by higher homocysteine and methylmalonic acid due to high blood folate, is also manifested clinically through higher prevalence of anemia and cognitive impairment”.
“It is important to note that these adverse interactions between high folate blood levels and vitamin B12 deficiency were seen only in the study participants from the NHANES conducted between 1999 and 2002, after the fortification of flour and other cereals with folic acid,” says Selhub, who is also a professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.
This study was supported by the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Selhub, J, Morris MS, Jacques PF. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2007 (Dec. 11); 104 (50): 19995-20000.
Adapted from materials provided by Tufts University, Health Sciences, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/
071218101124.htm
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