How bad is it? How many Kiwis might get colon cancer from eating all this extra folic acid?
C: Since mandatory fortification in 1998 the USA and Canada have had 4-6 extra cases of colorectal cancer per 100,000 people per year. Chile has reported a similar increase in the European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology but the one of the journal’s editors says it is a “weak, indirect indication of a causal relationship”. B: So let’s work out 4-6 extra cases per 100,000 in New Zealand’s population of roughly 4 million. That’s potentially 160-240 more people with colon cancer for the sake of 14 less babies with NTD’s. Yeah, I know that sounds pretty callous – sorry. C: It’s not that simple because we don’t yet have any proof. These results are just associations – like saying that people who drive expensive cars visit the doctor more than people with cheap cars. Does that mean they are less healthy, or that somehow the car makes them sick? There are all sorts of reasons why colon cancer rates may have increased – more obesity or even better diagnosis which means more cases are
