While reading the latest issue of US News & World Report, I found an interesting article about the study of Folate. The synthetic form of the vitamin folate is called folic acid and was recently shown to prevent cancers in lab animals but accelerated the disease in children dying of leukemia.

Women who may conceive need folic acid to prevent birth defects. Folic acid may reduce stroke risk. Folic acid has been shown to produce great results in some people while not affecting others at all.

Researchers hope to add folic acid to food to get more people to use it. The fact that the benefits are limited to a very specific population-women of childbearing age and may cause harm to others may be the stumbling block. It seems to increase colorectal cancer in those already producing cancer cells.

I think more study needs to be done before they start adding it to our foods. We should have the right to choose whether we want it or not.