Study links folic acid to reduced risk of oral cancer
A team of researchers from Columbia University Medical Centre and Harvard School of Public Health have found a link between folic acid intake and oral cancer.
In recent years, rates of oral cancer amongst young women have increased significantly due to unhealthy lifestyle habits; many women smoke and women are now drinking more alcohol than ever before. Drinking and smoking have been identified as risk factors for oral cancer and people who both smoke and drink on a regular basis are much more likely to develop oral cancer than those who do not smoke or drink.
Research carried out by the team found that women who drank a large amount of alcohol and had a low intake of folic acid were three times as likely as women who drank the same amount of alcohol but had a high intake of folic acid.
Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said that rates of oral cancer are worryingly high amongst young women due to the fact that women are consuming more alcohol than ever before. Dr Carter said that the research should encourage women to increase their intake of folic acid and try to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Good sources of folic acid include bananas, fortified breakfast cereals, leafy green vegetables, kiwi fruit, papaya, broccoli and cabbage.
Dentists are also keen to promote regular dental check-ups, as early detection and treatment can improve survival rates by up to 90 percent.
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