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MICROPLASTICS: Reducing damage from inflammation and toxicities with Turmeric-Boswellia C.Executive summary: There are m...
05/12/2025

MICROPLASTICS: Reducing damage from inflammation and toxicities with Turmeric-Boswellia C.

Executive summary: There are major concerns about microplastics and nanoplastics that enter into the human body orally and/or through breathing. Although there is no universally accepted way to detoxify the body of all of them, there are foods such as acerola cherries, fenugreek, ginger, boswellia, turmeric, and others that have been shown to support the reduction of inflammation and may support physiological defenses against oxidative or inflammatory stress associated with microplastic exposure. This is because of their:

1. Nutrient components (vitamin C, quercetin, saponins),
2. Containing of amphiphilic compounds that may form micelle-like structures during digestion,
3. Ability to support bile metabolism,
4. Ability to support liver and lymphatic detoxification, and
5. Ability to prevent and/or remove oxidative damage (which can be an indirect result of plastic ingestion).

Turmeric Boswellia C contains a combination of foods with those properties. While precise mechanisms for removal of plastics in the human body are not fully understood, studies support the view that the combining of these foods is synergistically beneficial for detoxification and human health.

Plastic Issues and Remedies

“Nanoplastics (NPs) as contaminants in food and water have drawn increasing public attention … NPs reduce brain function” [1]. Microplastics and nanoplastics are being implicated in neurological degeneration, negative effects of aging, and other matters. Animal studies have shown these plastics can trigger inflammatory responses [1,2].

Avoidance of all such plastics is basically impossible in the 21st century, but people would be wise to reduce exposure.

Beyond that, while there is no accepted ‘treatment’ for all ingested microplastics or nanoplastics, that does not mean that foods and nutrients from foods cannot be helpful in their removal or with any inflammation they may cause.

Consider that many foods and herbs have historically been used to assist with inflammation [1]. The combination of anti-inflammatory foods found in Turmeric- Boswellia C is something to consider.

Understand that plastics are composed of hydrophobic molecules [3]. It has been shown that amphiphilic block copolymers self-assemble into micelles with a hydrophobic core that can solubilize/encapsulate hydrophobic molecules such as those found in plastics [3].

A micelle is a supramolecular structure formed by amphiphilic molecules — compounds with both a hydrophobic (nonpolar) part and a hydrophilic (polar) part. They spontaneously form spherical (or sometimes cylindrical) aggregates in aqueous solution, with the hydrophobic tails inward and the hydrophilic heads outward. Classic examples include detergents, bile salts, phospholipids, and saponins.

While no foods literally contain amphiphilic micelles in the same structured form found in lab surfactant systems, many foods naturally form micelles during digestion, or contain molecules capable of forming micelles once mixed with bile or water–fat interfaces.

Foods such acerola cherries, fenugreek, ginger, boswellia, and turmeric have often been found to work better together than separately. Furthermore, they do contain molecules that can act amphiphilically and may form micelle-like or colloidal aggregates under certain conditions (especially in water or oil-water mixtures). So, while they don’t contain pre-formed micelles in the same sense as soap or bile, extracts from these plants can self-assemble into micelle-like colloids because of their natural amphiphilic compounds. This may account for the finding that some substances contained within them, like saponins which are in all of them (though most abundant in fenugreek), may influence microplastic aggregation, adsorption, and elimination [4].

Saponins are textbook amphiphilic molecules and form micelles that can encapsulate hydrophobic substances [5,6]—microplastics are hydrophobic substances. Although many microplastic particles are too large to be encapsulated in micelles, nanoplastics certainly can be. Other effects from saponins on larger microplastic particles would likely relate to surface adsorption or changes in aggregation, as opposed to true micelle entrapment.

Although many plastics/polymers are electrically neutral, their surface reactivity and leached chemicals can provoke oxidative stress. Thus, their presence in living organisms can result in oxidative damage [7]. Therefore, antioxidant containing foods (like acerola cherries) can help reduce, as well as “clean up,” some of that damage.

Acerola cherries (Malpighia emarginata DC) are one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C and contain phytonutrients like carotenoids phenolics, anthocyanins, and flavonoids [8]. “The vitamin C produced by acerola is better absorbed by the human organism than synthetic ascorbic acid” [9]. The presence of functional phytochemicals in acerola has been shown to influence the intestinal epithelial cells to increase the cellular uptake of vitamin C as opposed to vitamin C alone [10]. “Acerola…contains bioflavonoids” [11], anthocyanins, and quercetin [12]. An animal study found that “acerola juice reduces low-grade inflammation” [13]. Vitamin C “occurs in the body in the form of ascorbate, known for its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties” [14]. Not only does vitamin C have free radical scavenging abilities, it also has been shown to increase the antioxidant abilities of some other foods [6]. Vitamin C has been shown to “reduce stress markers and inflammation by neutralizing harmful molecules, activating protective pathways, and regulating autophagy, providing potential protection” associated with microplastics [4]. Curcumin, which is a component of turmeric, tends to improve the anti-inflammatory traits of vitamin C [15]. Studies show that vitamin C can reduce toxicities [16]. Acerola cherries contain both vitamin C and bioflavonoids which work synergistically, whereas one study showed that vitamin C “acts synergistically to protect cutaneous tissue cells in culture against oxidative damage” [16].

An in vitro study performed at Doctors’ Research with a digital ORP meter demonstrated that a citrus food vitamin C has negative ORP, but that ascorbic acid had positive ORP [17]. It is negative ORP which better helps clean up oxidative damage [18]. Since ascorbic acid has positive ORP (as well as positive redox potential [19]), it can never replace food vitamin C. Thus, high vitamin C foods, such as acerola cherries, should be considered when plastic ingestion contributes to free radical damage.

Boswellia gum (Boswellia serrata), also known as frankincense, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties [20,21]. An animal study it helpful against the effect of toxicants [22]. Boswellia’s anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties may account for its protection against induced toxins [23]. “The gum exudate obtained from the bark of the tree B. serrata, also called Indian olibanum, has been … widely used in various formulations for the treatment of inflammation” [24]. Boswellia contains triterpenoids. Triterpenoids, although themselves highly hydrophobic, can form colloids in the presence of other amphiphilic compounds (e.g., phospholipids or surfactants in extracts) [25]. “For several thousand years (~4000) Boswellia serrata and Curcuma longa have been used in Aryuvedic medicine for treatment of various illnesses … which are mediated through pathways associated with inflammation … The anti-inflammatory effects of boswellic acids and curcumin have translated to … the improvement … as shown in numerous clinical trials” [26]. Other studies have also pointed to the synergistic benefit of combining boswellia and turmeric together [27]. Another paper concluded that boswellia and fenugreek worked well together [28].

“Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) (FG) is a plant … with … anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, … effects … evidence supports a role for fenugreek in protecting against … inflammation” [29]. It is approved by German Commission E for inflammation of the skin [20]. It has also been found to be helpful for dealing with toxins and inflammation of the lungs [30]. Fenugreek gum and Boswellia gum have been found to work synergistically [31]. Fenugreek contains quercetin [32]. Fenugreek also contains saponins [20]. Saponins in fenugreek can influence bile acid metabolism and lipid emulsification, which may aid in the detoxification of nanoplastics [33]. Fenugreek saponins, “After oral administration, with gentle stirring in the gastrointestinal fluids, they form micro- or nanoemulsions” [34]. Thus, that could also be why fenugreek can be helpful in detoxifying from nanoparticles substances like plastics.

Ginger rhizome Zingiber officinale has anti-inflammatory effects [20]. “Scientific evidence supports the beneficial properties of ginger, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities” [35]. “Ginger, a well-known natural product, has been demonstrated to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, … properties” and supports “healthy aging” [36]. “Overall, eight RCTs reported the anti-inflammatory effect of ginger supplementation” [37]. On a totally different note, a randomized double-blind study found health benefits when fenugreek, ginger, and turmeric were combined [38]. An animal study found that ginger looked to help protect against toxic changes caused by a type of plastic [39]. Ginger aids with bile metabolism [40]. Since in vitro research suggests that bile salts potentially appear to assist in aggregation of micro and nano plastics [41], this may represent one pathway by which ginger could influence the processing or aggregation of plastic particles, and thus may be a way ginger assists in the removal of plastics in the body.

“Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a type of herb belonging to ginger family … Turmeric's effects on health are generally centered upon an orange-yellow colored, lipophilic polyphenol substance called "curcumin," which is acquired from the rhizomes of the herb. Curcumin is known to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, … effects [42]. “Tutrmeric has antihepatotoxic … and antinflammatory effects“ [20]. Curcuma longa (syn. C. domestica Valeton and C. brog Valeton) is also known as “turmeric” worldwide [43]. “In general, curcumin is beneficial to human health, demonstrating pharmacological activities of anti-inflammation and antioxidation” [44]. Curcumin in combination with boswellic acid is more effective “presumably due to synergistic effects of curcumin and boswellic acid” [45]. Turmeric compounds support “healthy aging” as they have helped prevent cellular damage [46] and may offer protective antioxidant activity against microplastic-induced stress [4]. A study including turmeric, ginger root, vitamin C, and boswellia extracts concluded there was efficacy of the blend [47]. Curcumin can form nanosized colloidal aggregates in aqueous media and in the presence of natural emulsifiers [48], hence that may explain turmeric’s aiding in the expulsion of microplastics.

Scientific research has concluded that the combinations of antioxidants such as vitamin C (which is in acerola cherries), quercetin (which is in acerola cherries and fenugreek) and curcumin (which is in turmeric) have been found to “reduce stress markers and inflammation by neutralizing harmful molecules, activating protective pathways, and regulating autophagy, providing potential protection” associated with microplastics [4].

Based on current scientific literature, ingredients such as turmeric, boswellia, fenugreek, ginger, black pepper, and acerola cherries provide synergistic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support that may help mitigate some biological effects associated with microplastic exposure.

Various peer-reviewed scientific papers have concluded that combinations of these types of foods have been found to be more effective than many of them alone for things like inflammation and plastic detoxification.

Adjunctive Products: Liva-DeTox & Support, Herbal Antioxidant and Intestinal Support

Dr. Mercola has written, “The liver also plays an essential role in clearing microplastics from the bloodstream — Specialized immune cells in the liver, known as Kupffer cells, help trap these foreign particles and route them into bile for elimination via the intestines.” [49]. “The basic functions of the liver can be divided into (1) its vascular functions for storage and filtration of the blood, (2), its metabolic functions concerned with the majority of the metabolic systems of the body, (3) its secretory and excretory functions…About 1100 milliliters of bloods flows from the portal vein and into the liver sinusoids each minute, and about an additional 350 milliliters flows into the sinusoids from the hepatic artery” [50]. The liver thus partially detoxifies the equivalent of all the blood in the body several times per hour. The liver contains Kupffer cells, which are large macrophages that can efficiently cleanse the blood [50]. Liva-DeTox & Support which contains bovine liver tissue provides nutrients traditionally associated with liver support [51]. Liva-DeTox & Support contains milk thistle which is a source of silymarin. Silymarin appears to be helpful as an adjunctive for inflammation and oxidative stress management, which may be relevant to microplastic exposure for potential plastic detoxification [52]. Liva-DeTox & Support also supplies beets and garlic. Garlic has anti-inflammatory uses, whereas beets are said “to have antihepatoxic effects…probably due to the herb’s concentration of betaine” [20].

For additional antioxidant and detoxification support, consider Herbal Antioxidant. Herbal Antioxidant synergistically combines 12 antioxidant containing foods, including acerola cherries, ginger, milk thistle (silymarin source), and turmeric (curcumin source).

Also consider Intestinal Support, which includes bovine intestinal, lymphatic, and pancreatic tissue as well as collinsonia. An in vitro study involving rat derived intestinal epithelial tissue found that those tissues did uptake microplastics [53]. This lends support to the view that ingestion of bovine intestinal tissue may do the same thing, and as it would tend to be excreted, this could result in less microplastics remaining in the human body. Bovine pancreatic tissues naturally contain digestive enzymes. Lymphatic tissue contains macrophages [50]. Macrophages in the lymph nodes act as “clean-up” cells as they engulf and digest foreign particles that enter the lymph through lymphatic vessels. As oral consumption of bovine glands have long been considered by proponents to assist the organ they are related to in the human body [e.g. 54-56], it may be concluded that providing intestinal, lymphatic, and pancreatic tissue may help the excretion processes of intestines in humans. Collinsonia root (also known as stone root) which has long been used as an intestinal tonic and to aid against inflammation [20].

Yes, there is scientific evidence that ingredients in products such as Turmeric-Boswellia C, Liva-DeTox & Support, Herbal Antioxidant, and Intestinal Support should be considered to aid individuals who are concerned about ingested microplastics and nanoplastics.

References

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[2] Bianchi M, et al. Biological Effects of Micro-/Nano-Plastics in Macrophages. Nanomaterials 2025, 15(5), 394; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15050394
[3] Wang D, et al. Polymeric Micelles for the Delivery of Poorly Soluble Drugs: from Nanoformulation to Clinical Approval. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2020 Sep 24;156:80–118. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.09.009
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[16] Hendler SS, Rorvik D. Pdr for Nutritional Supplementd, 2nd edition. Thomson Reuters, 2008
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[18] Fowkes SW. Antioxidants & reduction. Smart Life News, 2000;7(9):6-8
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[21] Beghelli D, et al. Antioxidant and Ex Vivo Immune System Regulatory Properties of Boswellia serrata Extracts. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2017; 2017: 7468064
[22] Alyahya A, Asad M. Repeated 28-DAY oral dose study on Boswellia sacra oleo gum resin extract for testicular toxicity in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2020 Aug 10:258:112890. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2020.112890
[23] Rahimi VB, et al. Boswellia serrata inhibits LPS-induced cardiotoxicity in H9c2 cells: Investigating role of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Toxicon 2023 Jun 15:229:107132. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107132
[24] Almeida-da-Silva CL, et al. Effects of Frankincense Compounds on Infection, Inflammation, and Oral Health. Molecules. 2022 Jul; 27(13): 4174
[25] Cometa S, et al. Effectiveness of gellan gum scaffolds loaded with Boswellia serrata extract for in-situ modulation of pro-inflammatory pathways affecting cartilage healing. Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Oct;277(Pt 1):134079. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.134079
[26] Septhi V. Potential complementary and/or synergistic effects of curcumin and boswellic acids for management of osteoarthritis. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2022; 14
[27] Bannuru RR, et al. Efficacy of Curcumin and Boswellia for Knee Osteoarthritis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2018 Dec; 48(3): 416–429
[28] Chattopadhyay K, et al. Effectiveness and Safety of Ayurvedic Medicines in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Pharmacol. 2022 Jun 8;13:821810
[29] Knott EJ, et al. Fenugreek supplementation during high-fat feeding improves specific markers of metabolic health. Sci Rep. 2017; 7: 12770
[30] Abdrabouh A. Inflammatory and proapoptotic effects of inhaling gasoline fumes on the lung and ameliorative effects of fenugreek seeds. Sci Rep. 2022; 12: 14446
[31] Kumar RV, Sinha VR. A novel synergistic galactomannan-based unit dosage form for sustained release of acarbose. AAPS PharmSciTech . 2012 Mar;13(1):262-75
[32] Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006.2025 Jul 15
[33] Shao Z, et al. Aggregation kinetics of polystyrene nanoplastics in gastric environments: Effects of plastic properties, solution conditions, and gastric constituents. Environment International, Volume 170, December 2022, 107628
[34] Sinka D, et al. Formulation, Characterization and Permeability Studies of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) Containing Self-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System (SEDDS). Molecules. 2022 Apr 29;27(9):2846. doi: 10.3390/molecules27092846
[35] Ballester P, et al. Effect of Ginger on Inflammatory Diseases. Molecules. 2022 Nov; 27(21): 7223
[36] Ozkur M. Ginger for Healthy Ageing: A Systematic Review on Current Evidence of Its Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anticancer Properties.Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2022; 2022: 4748447
[37] Anh NH, et al. Ginger on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of 109 Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2020 Jan; 12(1): 157
[38] Bumrungpert A, et al. Effects of Fenugreek, Ginger, and Turmeric Supplementation on Human Milk Volume and Nutrient Content in Breastfeeding Mothers: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial. Breastfeed Med. 2018 Nov 9. doi: 10.1089
[39] Denwer S, et. al. The possible protective effect of ginger extract on toxic changes induced by bisphenol A on the thyroid gland of adult male albino rats: light and electron microscopic study. Ultrastruct Pathol. 2024 Nov;48(6):445-475. doi: 10.1080/01913123.2024.2395849
[40] Yu Y, et al. Dry ginger and Schisandra chinensis modulate intestinal flora and bile acid metabolism to treatment asthma. Front Microbiol. 2025 Mar 27:16:1541335. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1541335
[41] Shao Z, et al. Aggregation kinetics of polystyrene nanoplastics in gastric environments: Effects of plastic properties, solution conditions, and gastric constituents. Environment International, Volume 170, December 2022, 107628
[42] Kocaadam B, Şanlier N. Curcumin, an active component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), and its effects on health. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2017 Sep 2;57(13):2889-2895
[43] Dosoky NS, Setzer W. Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils of Curcuma Species. Nutrients. 2018 Sep; 10(9): 1196
[44] Liu S, et al. A Comprehensive Review on the Benefits and Problems of Curcumin with Respect to Human Health. Molecules. 2022 Jul; 27(14): 4400
[45] Haroyan A, et al. Efficacy and safety of curcumin and its combination with boswellic acid in osteoarthritis: a comparative, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018; 18: 7
[46] Rahman M, et al. Curcuma longa L. Prevents the Loss of β-Tubulin in the Brain and Maintains Healthy Aging in Drosophila melanogaster. Mol Neurobiol. 2022; 59(3): 1819–1835
[47] Bharat TB, et al. Ingredients of a Natural Oral Nutritional Supplement and Their Role in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis. Clin Med Insights Arthritis Musculoskelet Disord. 2022 Mar 25;15:11795441211063365
[48] Moutas S, et al. Curcumin-decorated nanoliposomes with very high affinity for amyloid-β1-42 peptide. Biomaterials. 2011 Feb;32(6):1635-45. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2010.10.027
[49] Mercola J. Study Finds Widespread Microplastics in Reproductive Fluids, What It Means for Fertility. Mercola.com, September 29, 2025
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[51] Profiles in Nutritional Progress. Rubicon Productions, Bakersfield, 1993
[52] Elsheikh A, et al. Polystyrene microplastic particles induced hepatotoxic injury via pyroptosis, oxidative stress, and fibrotic changes in adult male albino rats; the therapeutic role of silymarin. Toxicol Mech Methods. 2023 Nov;33(6):512-528. doi: 10.1080/15376516.2023.2191270
[53] Sofield CE, et al. Digestion of microplastics with simulated gastrointestinal conditions mitigates uptake by intestinal epithelial cells: Quantified by imaging flow cytometry. Journal of Hazardous Materials Volume 498, 15 October 2025, 139816
[54] Burns D. Accumulating scientific evidence supports glandular therapy. The Digest of Chiropractic Economics, Nov/Dec 1987: 74-79
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This document is intended solely for the use of health care professionals. It has not been evaluated by the US FDA or any other governmental authority. Scientists can, and do, often come to differing conclusions when looking at data and reports.

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Folic Acid is Hazardous to Your Health.  What About Food Folate?By Robert Thiel, Ph.D., Naturopath and ScientistFolic ac...
16/02/2023

Folic Acid is Hazardous to Your Health. What About Food Folate?

By Robert Thiel, Ph.D., Naturopath and Scientist

Folic acid gets a lot of press coverage. There are many reports that folic acid should be taken by pregnant women and may prevent birth defects. Folic acid has also been claimed to help prevent cardio- and cerebral-vascular diseases. Yet few reports have mentioned that folic acid is unnatural, folic acid is synthetic, and that the body cannot properly convert much folic acid into a usable folate form. Furthermore, concerns about folic acid feeding cancer are now a real concern in the 21st Century—too much folic acid may kill you.

“Folic acid is a synthetic folate form” [1] and was not developed until the 20th Century [2]. Folic acid is chemically known as pteroylglutamic acid (PGA) and is a crystalline substance (no food vitamins are naturally crystalline in structure) [2,3]. Folate, once also known as vitamin B9, exists in foods, yet crystalline folic acid does not [1-4]. Folates also differ from folic acid “in the extent of the reduction state of the pteroyl group, the nature of the substituents on the pteridine ring and the number of glutamyl residues attached to the pteroyl group” [1].

An Irish study found that the body has trouble converting more than 266 mcg of folic acid per day [2]. “(C)onsumption of more than 266 mcg of synthetic folic acid (PGA) results in absorption of unreduced PGA, which may interfere with folate metabolism for a period of years” [2]. A 2004 paper from the British Medical Journal confirmed what many natural health professional have known all along: since folic acid is unnatural and the body cannot fully convert large amounts of it into usable folate, this artificial substance can be absorbed and may have unknown negative consequences in the human body [4]. One of the biggest scientific concerns about folic acid is that even in amounts close to official daily recommendations, some of it is absorbed in unreduced form into the bloodstream with potentially dangerous results [2,4]. Also, “(i)n vitro studies do show that PGA derivatives act to inhibit certain enzymes, including those associated with nucleotide biosynthesis” [4]. In spite of this, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has required that uncooked cereal grains and flour products be fortified with folic acid [1].

A JAMA study recently concluded that “studies have suggested that folate intake decreases risk of cardiovascular diseases. However…[f]olic acid supplementation has not been shown to reduce risk of cardiovascular diseases” [5]. This is because studies using folate (the natural form) show it works, yet folic acid (the synthetic form) does not. Food folate is clearly superior.

Since food folate is natural and is absorbed through a different pathway than folic acid [2], long-term consumption of folate does not result in an accumulation of a foreign substance in the body, but instead has many benefits.

Initially, food folate was given for people with a pregnancy-related anemia in the form of autolyzed yeast; later the synthetic form, folic acid, was developed [2]. Folic acid, as it exists in most supplements, is not found in foods, folates are [2]. USDA reports show that broccoli and alfalfa sprouts contain food folate [6,7] and they are considered to be the best food supplement source by some. Furthermore, “folates are ubiquitous in nature, being present in nearly all natural foods…50 to 95% of folate in food may be destroyed by protracted cooking or other processing” [2]. Yeast, dark green leafy vegetables, and oranges have the highest folate content [1,2].

Folate is an important nutrient for healthy blood; the absence of any of it can trigger various forms of anemia (especially pernicious anemia) [2,8]. Subclinical deficiencies of folate may impair cognitive function [9]. Folate deficiency is the most important determinant in high homocysteine levels [9], and supplemental folate is effective in reducing homocysteine [10,11]. (Homocysteine is highly implicated in vascular diseases such as cardiovascular and other vascular disorders.) “The major forms of folates found in food are methylTHF and formylTHF” [12].

While insufficient folate can result in fatigue, depression, confusion, anemia, reduced immune function, loss of intestinal villi, and an increase in infections [1,2,8], it is not totally clear what dangers long-term consumption of folic acid will cause [2,4]. Certain scientists believe that excessive consumption of folic acid may actually interfere with folate metabolism [2]—this could be expected to worsen conditions that would have otherwise benefited from real food folate. Furthermore, “(v)ery large amounts of folic acid in its pharmacological oxidized (PGA) form may be noxious to the nervous system…and have provoked seizures in patients otherwise under control on anticonvulsant therapy” [2].

Excessive Folic Acid is Becoming a Health Concern

A 2010 report states, “"The more we learn about folic acid, the more it's clear that giving it to everyone has very real risks," says folic acid researcher David Smith, PhD, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Oxford in England…The risk experts worry about most: colon cancer. Last year, health officials in Chile reported that hospitalization rates for colon cancer among men and women age 45 and older more than doubled in their country since fortification was introduced in 2000. In 2007, Joel Mason, MD, director of the Vitamins and Carcinogenesis Laboratory at the Tufts University School of Medicine, described a study of the United States and Canada suggesting that rates of colon cancer rose — following years of steady decline — in the late 1990s (around the time our food was being fortified)” [13].

The same report also states, “Other research links high doses to lung and prostate cancers. In one study conducted in Norway, which doesn't fortify foods, supplementation with 800 mcg of folic acid (plus B12 and B6) daily for more than 3 years raised the risk of developing lung cancer by 21 percent. Another, in which men took either folic acid or a placebo, showed those consuming 1,000 mcg of folic acid daily had more than twice the risk of prostate cancer. And a new worry recently came to light when scientists discovered the liver has limited ability to metabolize folic acid into folate — which means any excess continues circulating in the bloodstream. "Unlike folate, folic acid isn't found in nature, so we don't know the effect of the excess," says Smith. Indeed, many scientists have grown increasingly concerned about mounting research — including a study published last winter in the Journal of the American Medical Association — suggesting that all the extra folic acid might increase your odds of developing cancer” [13].

Even foods “fortified” with folic acid may cause serious neurological problems in patients deficient in vitamin B12 [12]. Furthermore, “no folic acid dose can be considered as truly safe in the presence of untreated cobalamin deficiency” [12].

Laura Bell correctly reported, “We all need the natural folate found in leafy greens, orange juice, and other foods, and diets high in these foods are perfectly healthy; many researchers, though, believe that folic acid may be both friend and foe. When cells in the body are healthy, folate helps shepherd along the normal replication of DNA. But when cells are malignant or in danger of becoming so — and as many as half of adults older than 60 could already have precancerous colon polyps, while most middle-aged men have precancerous cells in their prostates — animal studies suggest excess folate in the form of folic acid may act like gas on the fire… lowering your intake to 400 mcg won't hurt — and might help save your life” [13].

It is clear that since folic acid is unnatural, is synthetic, is chemically different, is structurally different, and is not absorbed in the same pathways as folate, long-term folic acid consumption may be hazardous to human health. Folate in foods is what is safe and is the preferred form of folate for human consumption. Excessive folic acid may make cancer worse. And unlike folic acid, humans have been safely consuming food folate for thousands of years.

I have been warning people against folic acid for many years [3,14]. Now it is becoming clearer and clearer that those warnings should have been heeded by more people. Everyone should be concerned about taking synthetic/isolated USP vitamins like those containing folic acid.

References
[1] Hendler SS, Rorvik D, eds. PDR for Nutritional Supplements. Medical Economics, Montvale (NJ), 2001
[2] Shils ME, Olson JA, Shike M. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 9th ed. Williams & Wilkins, Balt., 1999
[3] Thiel R. Natural vitamins may be superior to synthetic ones. Med Hypo, 2000;55(6):461-469
[4] Lucock M. Is folic acid the ultimate functional food component for disease prevention? BMJ, 2004;328:211-214
[5] Bazzano LA, Reynolds K, Holder KN, He J. Effect of folic acid supplementation on risk of cardiovascular diseases: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. JAMA. 2006;296(22):2720-2726
[6] Broccoli, raw. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 18 (2005)
[7] Alfalfa seeds, sprouted raw. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 16-1, 2004
[8] Whitney EN, Hamilton EMN. Understanding Nutrition, 4th ed. West Publishing, NY, 1987
[9] Gonzalez-Gross M, Marcos A, Pietrzik K. Nutrition and cognitive impairment in the elderly. Br J Nutr 2001;86:313-321
[10] Verhoef P. Homocysteine metabolism and risk of myocardial infarction: Relation with vitamin B6, B12, and Folate. Am J Epidemiol 1996;143(9):845-859
[11] Brattstrom L. Vitamins as homocysteine-lowering agents: A mini review. Presentation at The Experimental Biology 1995 AIN Colloquium, April 13, 1995, Atlanta Georgia
[12] Carmel R. Folic Acid. In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 10th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 2006:470-481
[13] Bell L. Is your breakfast giving you cancer? Research links too much folic acid to certain cancers. Prevention. March. 29, 2010. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35874922/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition//
[14] Thiel R. Is Folic Acid Hazardous to Your Health? The Original Internist, 2004;11(2):39-40

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