An observational study of about 82,000 males and females in Sweden found a lower risk of pancreatic cancer in subjects with a high intake of folate-rich foods — green, leafy vegetables; cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage; oranges; legumes and whole grains.
No lower risk was found, however, for subjects taking folic acid supplements. Cereals in Sweden are not fortified with folate, as they are in the United States. Other studies have proven that folate boosts brain health. Older male subjects who obtained more folate through their diets showed significantly less decline in verbal fluency and spatial copying skills over a three-year period than those with lower folate intake. Another study found low folate associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease.