(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A recent study in the British Medical Journal suggests taking folate supplements during pregnancy may increase a mother's risk for breast cancer. However, all parties involved in the research emphasize this finding is likely due to chance.

English researchers from Aberdeen and Bristol studied about 3,000 pregnant women enrolled in a trial of folate supplementation in the 1960s. The women received varying daily doses of folate or placebo. By the end of September 2002, 210 women had died, with 40 deaths attributable to cardiovascular disease, 112 to cancer, and 31 to breast cancer. The women who had taken high doses of supplements were twice as likely to have a risk of death attributable to breast cancer.

But, the study authors stress these findings are preliminary and are probably due to chance. Researchers conclude, "It is important we don't confuse women about the need to take folic acid supplements early in pregnancy. Women planning to become pregnant should take folic acid supplements as recommended, as there is a considerable difference between the Aberdeen trial and current guidelines to prospective mothers."

Public health experts from the United States also say the most likely explanation for the results of the study are chance. They cite several studies suggesting that folic acid may even prevent breast cancer, as opposed to increasing the risk for it.