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Will a High Dose of Folic Acid Cause Gynecomastia?

Jul 26, 2011 | By Ruth Coleman

Boys and men can develop enlarged breasts, a condition called gynecomastia, which can involve one or both breasts. If both breasts are affected, one can be larger than the other. This condition can develop for a variety of reasons, but it usually is not a result of a serious disorder.

Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is the medical term for an enlarged male breast or a male breast that resembles a female breast. It is common for this condition to occur during puberty and for the enlargement to go away by itself within a year; it is especially common in overweight teenagers and in teens who are quite tall, according to the book "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment." Gynecomastia also develops in an estimated 50 percent of the athletes who take anabolic steroids and androgen male hormones.

Folic Acid

Gynecomastia can be caused by several diseases, including hyperthyroidism, kidney failure, liver failure and various tumors. Many medications can cause it, but it cannot be caused by a high dose of folic acid, according to the causes listed in the book "Greenspan's Basic & Clinical Endocrinology." Folic acid, also called folate or vitamin B9, is needed so the cells can make DNA and RNA and so the nervous system and brain can develop. In fact, women should have folic acid before and during a pregnancy to decrease the risk of the infant being born with birth defects, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Folic Acid Daily Requirements

According to the National Institutes of Health, the amount of folic acid you should have every day depends on your age. A man or woman 19 years old and older should consume 400 mg each day. Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin; it dissolves in water, so any amount that the cells do not use will usually be removed from the body via the urine. Yet, a high dose of this supplement may interact with anti-seizure medication or give symptoms of a deficiency of vitamin B12, but it won't cause gynecomastia. There are no side effects from consuming a large amount of this vitamin through food.

Medications That Cause Gynecomastia

"Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment" lists some of the medications that can cause gynecomastia. Bicalutamide, leuprolide, goserelin, nilutamide and flutamide are used to treat prostate cancer and can cause gynecomastia. Cyclophosphamide, busulfan and the alkylating agents, all cancer medications, can cause the condition. So can the heart medications methyldopa and amiodarone. Omeprazole, metoclopramide and cimetidine used for ulcers and acid reflux can be culprits. Anti-anxiety medications meprobamate, hydroxyzine and diazepam and the ketoconazole antifungal medication can cause gynecomastia as well.

References

Article reviewed by Sandy Nelson Last updated on: Jul 26, 2011

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