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Updated: Mar 15, 2026
09:43
Isolation, Culture, and Characterization of Prostate Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts
Published on: August 1, 2025
942
Association Between Dietary Folate and Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness Among African Americans and European Americans
Lihchyun Joseph Su1, Sarah O'Connor1, Daniela Ramirez Aguilar2
1Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
Nutrients
|March 14, 2026
Summary
Folic acid intake may increase prostate cancer aggressiveness in African-American men, while decreasing it in European-American men. Folate source and race significantly modify this association, impacting nutritional guidance for prostate cancer prevention.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Concerns exist regarding synthetic folate (folic acid) promoting cancer progression, despite its role in preventing neural tube defects.
- This study investigates the relationship between folate intake and prostate cancer (PCa) aggressiveness in African-American (AA) and European-American (EA) men.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between different sources of folate intake and prostate cancer aggressiveness.
- To determine if this association is modified by race.
Main Methods:
- Included 722 AA and 775 EA men diagnosed with prostate cancer.
- Folate intake (DFE, synthetic, natural) assessed via questionnaires.
- Logistic regression analyzed folate intake and PCa aggressiveness, with interaction effects tested for race.
Main Results:
- AA men had higher rates of aggressive PCa (31.6%) than EA men (21.7%).
- Decreased dietary folate equivalent (DFE) intake was linked to PCa aggressiveness in both groups.
- Highest synthetic folate intake correlated with higher PCa aggressiveness odds in AAs (adj. OR = 1.39), but lower odds in EAs (adj. OR = 0.62).
Conclusions:
- Folate's association with prostate cancer aggressiveness is source-specific and race-dependent.
- Findings suggest tailored nutritional advice is needed, emphasizing nutrient-gene and dietary interactions in PCa progression.
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