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Since 1998, when the U.S. mandated folic acid (FA) fortification of flour and other grain foods to lower risk for neural tube defects, FA intake has risen dramatically. Supplementation with FA and other B vitamins also has been proposed to prevent cardiovascular disease (by lowering homocysteine levels), although no studies yet have shown such benefit. To examine a possible association between FA treatment and cancer risk, researchers combined the results of two Norwegian trials of vitamin B supplementation in nearly 7000 patients with ischemic heart disease. More than 70% of patients were current or former smokers. Norway does not mandate FA fortification of foods.
Patients were randomized to one of four daily regimens: FA (0.8 mg) plus vit…