Folic acid, or folate, a B vitamin found in many vegetables and whole grains, is known to reduce neural tube defects in infants when taken during pregnancy. But now, a study at the University of Southern California has discovered that men taking a daily folic acid supplement of 1 milligram ran twice the risk of prostate cancer than those who took a placebo. Many foods are already fortified with folic acid, say experts in a BMC Public Health article, and taking the vitamin in supplements may result in “overdosing.”

Source:
BioMed Central, 2009