We have for years been sounding the alert that ingestion of large doses of vitamin B12 and or folic acid lead to abnormally high blood levels of the vitamins. There is important scientific data revealing that patients with breast and prostate cancer (among others) generally have higher than normal blood levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid. Other researchers (Sydney Farber, Victor Herbert, Ralph Green, R W Heinle) had previously reported that patients with various cancers of the blood such as chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute leukemia experienced a disappointing rapid progression of their leukemia in response to high doses of folic acid and or vitamin B12.

In our clinic, we observed and reported that megadoses of B12 alone and large doses of B12 plus folic acid stimulated prostate cancer to rapidly grow in two different patients (see panel below).

Tomaszewski’s group (Tomaszewski et al, 2011) revealed a direct correlation of Gleason’s grade and rapid cellular proliferation with both high serum and prostate tumor tissue folic acid levels. Suggesting that folic acid was actually feeding prostate tumor tissue. Tisman (doi: 10.1186/1752-1947-3-9295) had demonstrated that large doses of B12 stimulated while withdrawal of folic acid (doi: 10.1186/1752-1947-5-413) and vitamin B12 inhibited the clinical growth of their prostate cancer.

The charts below display information from our clinic and laboratory revealing results from two groups of our patients (Breast cancer and Prostate cancer). Notice that they have higher than normal blood vitamin B12 levels. We feel that such findings are suggestive that these two vitamins, in higher-than-normal levels, may be stimulating normally occult and indolent pre-malignant tissue into overtly malignant tumors or quiescent malignant tumors as has been reported previously for patients with prostate cancer by JC Figueiredo at USC (doi: 10.1093/jnci/djp019).

Studies by Young-In Kim's group of Toronto indicate that folic acid, by affecting epigenetic/gene expression may have a dual modulatory role in colorectal as well as in breast cancer carcinogenesis depending on the dose and the stage of cell transformation at the time of folate exposure. His murine studies conducted in colorectal cancer models confirm that folic acid supplementation may prevent as well as promote the progression of established pre-malignant abnormalities (similar to the work of Figueriredo in prostate cancer). Animal studies suggested that megadoses of supplemental folic acid may promote, rather than prevent cancer development. (DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0002268.pub2).

Because of the above, BD Maintenance Plus++ was formulated to deliver just enough and not too much B12 to prevent deficiency and contains no folic acid. It also delivers normal levels of B2 and B6 to maintain normal epigenetic relationships by providing normal blood levels of the important complement of B vitamins. Unfortunately, the US government has already added too much folic acid into the American diet, federally mandated since 1998. You can read an in depth discussion of the fortification of the American diet with large doses of folic acid at doi: 10.3390/nu3030370.

Glenn Tisman, M.D.