| Sumario: | Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cancer in men and the third most common cancer in women worldwide. Folate is a water-soluble B vitamin that participates in one-carbon metabolism, which has a critical function in methylation reactions and in DNA synthesis and repair. The association between dietary folate intake including natural and synthetic folic acid (FA) and risk of CRC has been evaluated in numerous epidemiologic studies. Whereas some studies have reported inverse associations, other studies have observed null and positive associations. Folate has a critical function in methylation reactions and in DNA synthesis and repair, and may accelerate tumor cell growth. In the mandatory era of FA fortification, approximately 40% of the population has supraphysiologic levels of serum or plasma folate. Low and high folate intake or plasma concentration are related with the risk of CRC. The upper limit for FA intake as well as the safe upper folate concentration needs to be determined to prevent adverse effects.
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