Folate Intake and Risk of Urothelial Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Epidemiological Studies

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#carcinoma-transitional-cell #case-control-studies #epidemiologic-studies #female #folic-acid

Folate Intake and Risk of Urothelial Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Epidemiological Studies

Gu et al., 2022 | Nutr Cancer | Meta Analysis

Citation

Gu Yi, Zeng Jie, ... Chang Hui. Folate Intake and Risk of Urothelial Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Epidemiological Studies. Nutr Cancer. 2022;74(5):1593-1605. doi:10.1080/01635581.2021.1973518

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the association between folate intake and the risk of urothelial carcinoma (UC). A systematic literature search using Pubmed and EMBASE databases was performed to find prospective cohort studies, population-based case-control study or hospital-based case-control study investigating the association of folate intake and the risk of UC. A total of 19 studies involving 11,175 cases and 656,161 individuals were included. High intake of folate was associated with a decreased risk of UC, with a pooled OR of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.66-0.93, P = 0.006) for the highest category of intake vs. the lowest. The data suggested that folate may contribute to the prevention of urothelial cancer. However, the association was observed only in case-control studies (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.39-0.79, P = 0.001), but not in cohort studies (RR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.87-1.09, P = 0.638). Dose-response meta-analysis showed that an increment of folate intake (100 μg/day) corresponded to an 8% deceased risk of invasive UC (RR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87-0.98, P = 0.004). High folate intake might be inversely associated with risk of UC particularly invasive UC, which needs to be confirmed.

Key Findings

High folate intake might be inversely associated with risk of UC particularly invasive UC, which needs to be confirmed.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 656161
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Carcinoma, Transitional Cell
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Epidemiologic Studies
  • Female
  • Folic Acid
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Vertical: folate

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09