Scientists Discover Link Between B Vitamins and Colorectal Cancer in Mice
Researchers at Tufts University’s USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (USDA HNRCA), located near Boston, have recently published a study revealing a significant connection between the amount of B vitamins consumed by pregnant mice and the likelihood of their offspring developing colorectal cancer as adults.
Breaking Down The Study
The study involved three groups of pregnant and nursing mice, all genetically engineered to be prone to colorectal cancer. These groups were fed diets with varying levels of folate and vitamins B2, B6, and B12: one group received higher than normal amounts, another received adequate amounts, and the third group received slightly deficient amounts. After weaning, all the newborn mice were given identical, nutritionally balanced diets through adulthood.
The results showed that about 60 percent of the mice in both the adequate and B vitamin deficient groups developed colon cancer. In contrast, less than 20 percent of the mice in the group that received higher than normal servings of B vitamins developed malignant growths.
Despite these promising figures, the researchers caution that this study is preliminary. More research is needed to further explore the correlation between maternal vitamin B consumption and reduced cancer risk in humans.
Insights from Dr. Jimmy Crott
Dr. Jimmy Crott, PhD, the lead author of the study, noted, “We saw, by far, the fewest intestinal tumors in the offspring of mothers consuming the supplemented diet. Although the tumor incidence was similar between offspring of deficient and adequate mothers, 54% of tumors in the deficient offspring were advanced and had invaded surrounding tissue, while only 18% of tumors in the offspring of adequate mothers displayed these aggressive properties.”
Current Recommendations for B Vitamins
Most healthcare providers already recommend higher than normal intake of folate and other essential B vitamins during pregnancy and nursing as part of routine prenatal care. Consequently, most popular brands of prenatal vitamins contain significantly larger servings of all four B vitamins compared to regular multivitamins. However, these recommendations are primarily aimed at preventing neural tube defects like spina bifida and ensuring proper neurological development in very young children, rather than preventing colon cancer.
In addition to their potential role in reducing the risk of colorectal cancer, folate and other B vitamins are crucial for preventing spina bifida and related neural tube defects during fetal development. They are also believed to significantly influence proper neurological development in very young children.
