Robino1 wrote:I've just recently discovered that folic acid can hinder chemo. I'm trying to cut it out but damn! There are sooooo many things that have added it to their product!
Yes, most grain products in the US and Canada are fortified with folic acid. Folic acid allows 5FU/Xeloda to remain in the body longer, which means the drug builds up in your body and causes some very uncomfortable GI problems. It doesn't mean you can't have any folic acid, but don't ingest too many supplemented products - crackers, pasta, bread, even breakfast cereals (which are super-fortified with it!). Check the labels on all grain products and if you're taking a multi-vitamin, make sure it doesn't contain folic acid.
Why is folic acid added to so many foods? It's because researchers found that low levels of folic acid in pregnant women led to a higher incidence of spina bifida, anencephaly, and other birth defects so it was easier to supplement grain products than target this select group. But it's bad for 5FU/Xeloda patients. If more oncs told patients about the correlation, it's likely there'd be fewer adverse GI effects.
Most of the gluten free pastas don’t have folic acid. And I second the recommendation of Bob's Redmill organic flour!
Juliej