High consumption of diets rich in folic acid may inhibit the development cancerous cells in the pancreas.

This study assessed the effect of exposure to dietary folate and folic acid supplements on pancreatic cancer risk. Using validated dietary questionnaires, researchers examined the intake of folate from food sources and supplements of 81,922 cancer-free men and women recruited from the Swedish Mammography Cohort. The pancreatic cancer hazard risk was measured in all the participants in this study.

Researchers observed reduced pancreatic cancer risk in subjects who consistently consumed foods that are rich in folic acid. High intake of folate supplements did not contribute to the prevention of pancreatic carcinogenesis. The results of this study show that increased consumption of folate from food sources, not from folic acid supplements, may lower the risk of developing pancreatic cancer in men and women.