The relationship between folic acid and colorectal cancer; a literature review

Haidara Kherbek; Rima Daoud; Tania Soueycatt; Youssef Soueycatt; Zain Ali; Julia Ehsan; Zuheir Alshehabi; Michael Georgeos

doi:10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104170

The relationship between folic acid and colorectal cancer; a literature review

Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2022 Jul 12:80:104170. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104170. eCollection 2022 Aug.

Authors

Haidara Kherbek¹, Rima Daoud¹, Tania Soueycatt¹, Youssef Soueycatt¹, Zain Ali¹, Julia Ehsan¹, Zuheir Alshehabi², Michael Georgeos³

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.
² Department of Pathology, Cancer Research Center, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.
³ Department of Oncology, Cancer Research Center, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.

Abstract

The objective: this study aims to investigate the relationship between folic acid and colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: google scholar, Pubmed, Pubmed central were searched from 1994 to 2022 for articles on the association between folic acid and CRC using the combinations: folic acid and colorectal cancer risk, folic acid and colorectal cancer survival, folic acid and colorectal cancer recurrence.

Main message: to describe and discuss the effect that folic acid might play on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, recurrence and survivals, taking into account the possible differences between the men and women.

Conclusion: Our article supports the idea that says: vit-B9 has a dual-modulator effect on CRC carcinogenesis. However, its role in preventing recurrence and improving survival rates remains unresolved with a possible potential role of folate metabolism genotype variations. Therefore, more evidence from clinical studies is needed.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Folic acid; Recurrence; Risk; Survival.

Publication types

Review