Statement By Dr. Daniel Fabricant, VP For The Natural Products Association On New Folic Acid Study

Main Category: Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 08 Jun 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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The Natural Products Association issued the following statement by Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., vice president of scientific regulatory affairs for the Natural Products Association, in response to a study released today in the Journal of the American Medical Association on "Folic Acid for the Prevention of Colorectal Adenomas":

"This study is not about prevention at all, because every one of the subjects in this study already had this condition. What this study might address is a prevention of a reoccurrence, which is a distinction with an enormous difference. It would be grossly inaccurate to suggest or report that folic acid is therefore ineffective for primary prevention of colorectal adenomas based on this study."

"Secondly, the study failed to account for other basic factors which may be at work here, including calcium and vitamin D intake from diet, for instance. Without this essential knowledge, it is impossible to draw clear conclusions about the effects of folic acid on this particular condition."

"This might explain why the authors themselves seem confused. They initially state that 'on the whole, the biological and epidemiological evidence supports the potential for folate supplementation to prevent colorectal neoplasia in humans.' Then, they do an about face in their conclusion and speculate regarding an increased risk for colorectal neoplasia, despite stating that 'evidence for an increased risk is equivocal.'"

The Natural Products Association (formerly NNFA) is the nation's largest and oldest non-profit organization dedicated to the natural products industry. The association represents nearly 10,000 retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors of natural products, including foods, dietary supplements, and health/beauty aids.

http://www.naturalproductsassoc.org

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