In a study on mice that was published in the Journal of Nutrition (137:2701-2708, December 2007) looked at B vitamin deficiencies and their relation to colon cancer in mice. Earlier studies have suggested that low folic acid levels may be a risk factor for colorectal cancer. This study looked at the effect of low folate when coupled with low levels of other B vitamins, including riboflavin, B6, and B12. Over a ten-week period the researchers tested several biochemical, immunological and genetic markers. They found that a mild depletion of folic acid, riboflavin, B6, and B12  significantly increased the DNA damage localized at the Apc gene. Alone, folic acid depletion, did not affect DNA.