Study: Postmenopausal Women Who Drink May Need Folate Supplement

Women who are postmenopausal and drink more than half a glass of alcohol daily and have low intakes of folate may be at an increased risk for developing breast cancer, according to researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Researchers found that women who drank alcohol and had a lower intake of folate were almost 60 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than women who did not drink alcohol and had the highest intakes of folate, according to the study published in the journal Epidemiology. Folate may be linked to the body's ability to repair genetic damage that leads to cancer, according to the researchers.

Researchers reviewed information on more than 34,000 postmenopausal women, including data on diet and vitamin use. In 12 years, 1,600 women had developed breast cancer, according to the study.

Women who drank the most alcohol daily but also had the highest intake of folate had the same risk of developing breast cancer as those who did not drink alcohol and had low intake of folate, said the researchers.

Alcohol is broken down in the body into a chemical called acetaldehyde, which has been shown to cause cancer. Without adequate folate, the body may not be able to repair the harm caused by alcohol, according to Dr. Thomas A. Sellers of the Mayo Clinic.

Researchers conclude that if you have adequate levels of folate, you may not be increasing your risk of breast cancer by moderate drinking. They suggest that women who consumer alcohol may want to consider taking a folate supplement.

Other Sources: Reuters.