Folic Acid

smokeyjoe

Asked onc. about supplements what can take that would be helpful...he said avoid supplements with Folic Acid being on Folfiri that folic acid would counteract the chemo. Anyone else get that advice???

lisa42

I've heard this
I've heard this too, but not from my onc. I remember asking onc about it & he acted like he didn't know anything about folic acid being good or bad one way or another.
It's pretty hard to avoid if you take a multivitamin- I don't know of any that don't have folic acid in them. Also, many cereals are "fortified" with folic acid.
I think when researchers discovered a few years back that spina bifida was supposedly caused by a lack of folic acid in pregnant mothers, then everyone started going crazy and fortifying lots of different things with folic acid. It seems there can definitely be too much of a "good thing".
I don't know- but definitely worth trying to minimize if you're on folfiri, if that's what your onc said. Folic acid naturally occurs in many foods, leafy greens, etc., so if you're eating well, most of us don't need the extra "fortified" folic acid anyhow.
I no longer take a regular multivitamin- I try to eat well & I also now take a powder nutrition supplement & I noticed it doesn't have folic acid in it.

Lisa

SisterSledge

So hard to know what is the right choice
Pertinent info in towards bottom of the page: High doses of folic acid may also interfere with the actions of the chemotherapy drug methotrexate and other drugs like it. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist about any supplements and herbs you are taking.

http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/folic-acid
Folic Acid

I'm taking a Bcomplex that does contain Folic Acid, as I'm a bit anemic...I think it is safe for chemo users in a regular dose. My Onc hasn't provided any information to me on what to avoid or use in the way of supplements...all he would say, is eat healthy.

geotina

smokeyjoe:
We were told the exact same thing by our oncologist.

Please check with your oncologist before starting anything and get their ok.

Take care - Tina

ron50

Hi Smokey
Since ca I have been on methotrexate, another chemo drug ,for auto-immune problems. I was on folic acid to limit side effects. From what I understand leucovorin does the same for 5fu. When folic acid did not help with the meth I was given leucovorin as well. Ron.

coloCan

geotina said:

smokeyjoe:
We were told the exact same thing by our oncologist.

Please check with your oncologist before starting anything and get their ok.

Take care - Tina

During chemo, a multi-vitamin was all my onc recommended I
take.....I don't recall reason for the following but she also had me stop my two blood pressure pills......steve

smokeyjoe

ron50 said:

Hi Smokey
Since ca I have been on methotrexate, another chemo drug ,for auto-immune problems. I was on folic acid to limit side effects. From what I understand leucovorin does the same for 5fu. When folic acid did not help with the meth I was given leucovorin as well. Ron.

He said to just eat well
He said to just eat well balanced meals three times a day, and I should be fine. So, far my counts are all good. But, I had been taking a multivitamin. Sister Sledge, that article you noted is almost contradictory....it states something to the effect that is helps in preventing some cancers including colon cancer. Interesting. So, it's good at preventing cancer....but when on chemo. don't take it because it interferes with the chemo.!! So friggen confusing!!! Thanks for your input guys Leena.

Kathryn_in_MN

smokeyjoe said:

He said to just eat well
He said to just eat well balanced meals three times a day, and I should be fine. So, far my counts are all good. But, I had been taking a multivitamin. Sister Sledge, that article you noted is almost contradictory....it states something to the effect that is helps in preventing some cancers including colon cancer. Interesting. So, it's good at preventing cancer....but when on chemo. don't take it because it interferes with the chemo.!! So friggen confusing!!! Thanks for your input guys Leena.

Avoiding extra folic acid on chemo
There is a good reason behind not taking extra folic acid if you are taking 5-FU with Leucovorin. The reason isn't all chemo - the reason is this specific drug combo. Leucovorin is given to help the 5-FU work longer in your body. Leucovorin is folinic acid.

Both my oncologist and my oncology dietitian told me not to take a multi-vitamin with folic acid, and not to eat a ton of commercial cereals fortified with it either on chemo weeks. Oncology dietitians will tell you that if you need specific vitamins or nutrients that you don't get enough of through diet, then supplement for that specific thing - not a multi-vitamin. For example, lots of us have been told at one time or another to add vitamin D3 with calcium if we are low on D. There are some multi-vitamins or supplements that have too high of levels of some vitamins that can be problematic too. A multi seems to be the simple way to go, but really isn't best for anyone.

If you get Leucovorin and then you get a lot more folic acid in supplements it can be harmful to you while on your chemo regiment. (The amount you get naturally in foods isn't an issue.)