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Folic acid and cancer risk

Supplemental folic acid in pregnancy and risk of maternal and childhood cancer

A new study from IGS shows no association between folic acid use before and during pregnancy and the risk of maternal and childhood cancer. The study included more than 430,000 women and 690,000 children in the period 1999-2010, and 3,780 women and 800 children developed cancer. Information on supplement use was obtained from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway.

Jan Helge Seglem Mortensen
PhD candidate Jan Helge Seglem Mortensen is the first author of this study.

Main content

1. Mortensen JHS, Øyen N, Fomina T, Melbye M, Tretli S, Vollset SE, Bjørge T. Supplemental folic acid in pregnancy and maternal cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol 2015; 39: 805-11.

2. Mortensen JHS, Øyen N, Fomina T, Melbye M, Tretli S, Vollset SE, Bjørge T. Supplemental folic acid in pregnancy and childhood cancer risk. Br J Cancer 2016; 114: 71-75.