Folic acid was treated as wonder vitamins when scientists discovered its benefits in preventing cancers. But recent studies have shown that high intake of folic acid might favor cancers in some people. Experts say that folic acid intake needs a careful watch as some people react to high intake of folic acid.

Connie Motter, co-chair of the National Council on Folic Acid says that it is difficult to determine the correct amount of folic acid require by a person as low consumption of folic acid is not recommended and too much folic acid is probably not good.

Folic acid is an artificial version of folate, a vitamin B9 that exist in green leafy vegetables, legumes and orange juice. It assists in generating and mange new cells in the body. The increasing birth abnormalities in United States, as spina bifida and anencephaly had stimulated to inculcate folic acid, in cereals grains and flours supplied in 1998. Since then, birth abnormalities rate has declined by 20% to 50%.

Folic acid should be taken as everyday supplement to the women who are at pregnancy stages especially during the first few weeks. Since more than 50% of pregnancies are unplanned, doctors suggest getting 800 micrograms of folic acid per day for women of childbearing age. Other benefits of folate include, fight against anemic conditions, congenital heart defects,  premature birth and help to maintain nails, skin and hair healthy.

Researchers are of the opinion that higher doses of folic acid to a certain extent replace the action of vitamin B12 thereby preventing dementia developing in old people. Cancer is another scenario. The vitamins aid in the speedy growth of cancer cells in the colon and sustain the prevention of modifying into cancer. Studies relate cancers such as colorectal and precancerous polyps decrease by 40 percent to 60 percent if folic acid is taken excessively.

But folic acid also increases the risk of cancer because it aids the growth of cancerous cells. Research on animals revealed that if cells take turn to become cancer cells, than intake the vitamins will instead make the situation worse.

Researchers have found evidences of colorectal cancer in north America and said the rates have increased in number during the time of inclusion of folic acid in cereal grains. A study published recently had shown clear relation in the increase of colorectal cancer in Chile after the inclusion of folic acid with effect from year 2000. Joel B. Mason, Professor of nutrition science and policy at Tufts University in Boston, commented that it was not easy to relate to their understanding of the studies.

Folic acid is also worked alongside in clinical trials. The biggest trial involved around 500 people with precancerous colon polyps with a recommended dose of 1 milligram of folic acid (more than twice the suggested 400 micrograms dose). After few years, these people under trial reported the polyps developing more than 3 polyps, almost double the normal count.

Another recent report published in March stated that man who consumed folic acid supplements had almost thrice the chances of developing into prostate cancer after a decade.

The Institute of Medicine’s has set 1 milligram as the maximum intake of folic acid by the synthetic and natural sources together. Marian Neuhouser, a nutritional epidemiologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, concludes to say that this is the only piece of information that one can take home by not exceeding 1000 micrograms.

University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences have come close to bringing up a cancer treatment that is not so invasive or exorbitant, yet far more effective.

Conventional cancer treatment forms like radiation, surgery and chemotherapy may find a substitute if we go by the conviction of the scientists at Little Rock. They are using carbon nanotubes for diagnosing and killing off malignant cells.

Lead researchers Dr. Alex Biris, chief scientist with UALR’s Nanotechnology Center, and Dr. Vladimir Zharov, director of the laser and nanomedicine labs of the Winthrop Rockefeller Cancer Institute at UAMS declared the research which is published in the Journal of Biomedical Optics, at UALR. The technique developed by the scientists direct nanoparticles to the cancerous cells in which the particles attach to the damage cell thereby unveiling the identity of cancerous cells to therapists. A laser is utilized for destruction of the nanoparticles later.

Biris, Zharov and Dr. Ekaterina Glanzha of UAMS researched on injecting merely a single cancer cell comprising of carbon nanotubes into the tail vein of a test rat. Raman spectrometer technology is then used by the scientist to monitor and detect the moving nanoparticles in real time. With this technology the scientists is able to follow the circulation of the nanotubes through the rat’s blood vessels, lymphatic system, up to its ear.

According to Dr. Daniel Casciano, the project advisor, the new technology can branch out into something extraordinary. Casciano who is also the former director of the Food & Drug Administration’s National Center for Toxicological Research at Jefferson suggested that the line of treatment could ably substitute the conventional modes of treating cancer. He added that the discovery could end up in finding out about solid tumors, metastic cancer cells, personalized cancer therapies and a lot more.

The vanguard application of nanotube method would probably be for breast and prostate carcinoma. This is perhaps attributable to greater knowledge of these forms of cancer. It also remains to be seen whether the nanoparticles are moderately toxic or nearly non-toxic. Their successful transition from the tentative stage to the application stage is also sought with keen anticipation.

According to scientists, providing increased amounts of Vitamin D to individuals could help in reducing breast cancer by about 1/4 and reduce the occurrence of bowel cancer by about 1/3. These statements are based on the results of about 2750 previous researches which involved vitamin D. Result from the study indicate that intake of vitamin supplements on daily basis, could play a vital role in preventing cancer.

Vitamin D commonly known as ‘bottled sunshine’ – is produced by the reaction between sun ray on the individual’s skin. Thus people living in countries which have long winter conditions such as the United Kingdom often found to be deficient in the amount of vitamin D present in their bodies due to lack of adequate sunshine during the months of October to March.

A joint task force from United States and Canada is currently examining and exploring whether the prescribed levels of vitamin intake by individual’s which is currently at 200-600 IUs per day could be increased. The same amount of vitamin level is suggested in the United Kingdom as well; however the official policy in UK states that sunlight and having a healthy diet containing eggs and oily fish are adequate in helping achieve the daily vitamin level in most individuals. Yet, some medical experts and doctors feel that the level of vitamin D intake should be 5-10 times more than current suggested amount.

Professor Garland along and his colleagues suggest in the Annals of Epidemiology that increasing the current daily level of vitamin intake to about 2000 IUs (which is the present maximum level that is recommended in countries such as Canada) would help in preventing around 200,000 cases involving breast cancer and about 250,000 instances regarding bowel cancer a year all over the world.

Professor Garland added that while he used to travel from California towards the east coast as a young doctor he found that bowel cancer was more common in the northern and eastern parts as compared to the southern and the western parts. Professor Garland and his brother assumed that weather and climate of a region plays a role in the development of these types of cancers.  However after about 25 years, their idea has been proven to be correct and people have started paying more attention towards the condition.

Vitamin D over the years has attracted increased levels of attention due to the fact that it helps in preventing various forms of cancer and other conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. This research has put increased levels of pressure to investigate the link

After being used in cancer research for long, a new way of treating cancer know as “virtual karyotyping” that can be done by re-creating chromosomes via computer technology is now available to treat cancer patients. It appears that Dr. Jill Hagenkord from the Creighton University will be the first in the world to offer such service.

From the University of Pittsburg to Creighton last year, Dr. Jill has used the method in studying cancer chromosomes for several years.

The new technology offers higher quality of image of chromosomes and cancerous tissue. Being able to target on particular damaged chromosomes, Dr. Jill and other specialist can have a better prediction on the tumor growth and determine the right drugs for the tumor. Dr. Jill added this technology is currently best for kidney, breast, blood and a few other cancers. Soon it will also be available to many more types of cancer.

According to Dr. Jared Schwartz, the president of the College of American Pathologist in North Carolina, he was familiar with the work of Dr. Jill, and called it as the way to improve cancer diagnosis and determining the right medicine. He further commented that the “trial and error” style for treating the disease has came to an end.

Dr. Jill said that she was being prepared by her trainings in molecular genetic pathology (a study of disease at the DNA level), and pathology-cancer informatics (the use of computer in analyzing huge and complex sets of biological data) to spread out the diagnosis process.

Dr. Jill Hagenkord process includes the normal laboratory works like examining a patient’s tumor sample in a microscope, place it in a test tube, and extract its DNA. After that, the DNA will be placed in a chip and will be scanned in a computer, which in turn re-create the patient’s chromosomes virtually for further study.

A similar process has also been used in discovering birth defects and cancer research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, said Dr. Warren Sanger, UNMC’s director of human genetic laboratories. But they are not yet ready to use it for cancer patient care. Dr. Sanger commented that the process developed by D.r Jill may be able to detect some chromosomes abnormalities, but the meaning of these abnormalities to cancer diagnosis and treatment is still unclear. However, he considers it as a powerful potential tool.

At the meantime Dr. Jill agreed that her process is not yet workable to other cancer types but is found effective for others.

According to World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) the 3 best ways to reduce the risk of cancer are a healthy and balanced diet, habitual physical exertion and sustaining a healthy and normal weight.

An independent panel of researchers after 5 years study on more than 5 hundred thousand report has successfully come up with the 10 best ways to reduce the risk of cancer. Thus they concluded that consuming a balanced diet, following a strict exercise schedule and maintaining a normal and healthy weight are the 3 best methods to reduce the risk of cancer.

The panel of researchers suggested that a healthy diet normally comprises of high fibre content plant foods with modest amounts of alcoholic beverages, red meat and salt plus small quantities of processed meat. Evidence also suggests that people should intake different types of fruits and vegetables as it provides the body with different nutrients that may reduce the risk of cancer. The panel also advises people to stay away from any form of dietary supplements.

Experts estimate that by eating healthily, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight could aid in preventing close to 1/3rd of the most prevalent types of cancers, and could also help in reducing the risk of various other diseases such as diabetes etc.

The panel also recommended that people should avoid sugary drinks as they contain a lot of calories which results in weight gain in a person. Limiting the intake of calories is vital for cancer preclusion as according to the new report over weight is one of the major contributors to the increased risk of cancer. Hence people should try to be as fit as possible and should not be underweight either.

Another method to maintain a healthy weight is by having regular physical activity and movement. The researchers in their proposals have advised people to remain active for least 30 minutes per day. Remaining active doesn’t just include working out in a gym; it also includes various things such as fast walking, cycling and working daily in the houses. People should not do their whole day’s workout in just one go, as taking breaks and then continuing with the workout is the best way to maintain a healthy weight. Thus including physical activity into one’s existing daily schedule is the best way in the long run.

In Washington, a group of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed a useful implantable device that will help track cancer growth and its respond to treatment after biopsy.

Professor Michael Cima, the device development group leader said that the device was found successful in tracking tumor marker in mice, when they transplanted human tumors into the mice’s body during the experiment. The group thinks that one day, this particular implant device will provide and up to the minute update of the tumor’s activity such as responding to treatment and whether the tumor has spread to other parts of the body.

Professor Cima added that this implantable device can be implanted during biopsy. The device can also be modified in order to monitor chemotherapy agents and help doctors in determining if the cancer drugs have reached the tumors. He also pointed out that the device can be tailored to measure PH or oxygen levels and eventually reveals tumor metabolism and the way it responds to the treatment.

Professor Cima stresses that with the current tools used in detecting tumor action, it is already too late to prevent the spread of cancer by the time you receive the test results and said that the implantable device is the perfect tool to turn death causing cancer disease into a manageable one.

The said implantable device is a 5mm cylindrical implant containing magnetic nanoparticles and is coated with antibodies specialized to keep the target molecules that bind to the particles clump together. MRI or magnetic resonance imaging is then used to detect the clump.

Professor Michael Cima believes that the implant device to test PH level will be soon commercially available.

Obesity as an epidemic is slowing engulfing the United Kingdom. Researchers have concluded that annually almost nineteen thousand Britons develop cancer by being overweight; the figure is 50% higher than estimated and is constantly increasing by leaps and bounds. Thus individuals are being advised to stay as lean and slim as possible to minimise the risk of cancer.

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) found that seven main type of cancers and excess fat were directly linked. These cancers were cancer of the breast, endometrium, bowel, pancreas, oesophagus, kidney, and gall bladder.

Professor Wiseman, an adviser at WCRF, felt that thousands of diagnosed cancer cases could have been prevented if people had maintained their weight healthily. He said this was grave issue and demanded immediate concern as the people who are overweight and obese is increasing manifold.

The risk of cancer increases as body fat helps in the production and secretion of hormones and various growth factors present in our body like oestrogen and insulin which increases the threat of cancer. Obese and overweight people also do not lean towards eating healthy and nutritious quantities of fruits which are very helpful in protecting against cancer.

Professor Wiseman added that after quit smoking the next most important aspect for leading a healthy life is to maintain a normal and healthy weight. However the irony is that around 40% of people do not actually have the knowledge that obesity is one of the major causes of cancer. Thus this knowledge needs to be spread to as many people as possible to prevent the spread of cancer.

According to the scientists, around 1/3rd of the most general cancers can be prevented by people if they improve their way of living and lifestyle by simply eating healthy food, doing more exercise and maintain a constant and normal weight. Thus the WRCF concluded that people should maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI) within the range of 18.5 – 24.9 to keep away from various diseases such as cancer.