Study Reveals That Folic Acid Lowers Blood Arsenic Levels

  Scientists at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health have found that folic acid supplements dramatically reduces blood arsenic levels in people exposed to arsenic through contaminated drinking water. Arsenic gets into the water supply in many countries including various parts of the U.S.

The ColumbiaUniversity researchers looked at 200 folate deficient people high in arsenic in Bangladesh. As part of this interventional study, the affected individuals took 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, which lowered their total blood arsenic levels by 14 percent. How did folic acid pull this feat off? In-a-word, folic acid bolstered detoxification of arsenic in the body, in essence facilitating transformation of arsenic’s more toxic metabolite (methylarsonic or MMA acid) into a form that is more easily and readily excreted from the body.

In the US, arsenic in groundwater is one of the five most common inorganic compounds found at Superfund sites and is indeed present at over 70% of them.

Most people in America are exposed to arsenic that gets into water and food. Crops grown near Superfund sites or downwind from them can end up containing higher than normal amounts of arsenic.

The arsenic levels in tobacco grown in soil contaminated with arsenic translates to an elevated risk of arsenic exposure and thus accumulation in some smokers.

Long-term exposure (such as would occur over many years or decades) to high levels of arsenic in drinking water has been linked to:

Skin thickening and discoloration Drops in blood cell counts Abnormal heart rhythm and blood vessel damage Numbness in the hands and feet Nausea and diarrhea

A detailed technical look at arsenic and human health created by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) can be accessed by clicking this link: CDC on Arsenic

Readers who do have high levels of arsenic in their blood should discuss the Columbia University study, as well as the use of folate with their primary care physician. This said, be advised taking folate or folic acid in a pill or multi-vitamin may not be so wise, because folate -- like many water soluble vitamins taken in one “fell swoop” (single dose) -- can wind up passing into one’s urine. A wiser approach is to take water soluble vitamins like folic acid or folate in a slow or time-release form such as NUTRACENE.