The study, published in the journal Cancer Research, determined that the pancreatic cancer risk for people who were at or below normal weight decreased if they took in high levels of vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folate from food. Their risk of developing pancreatic cancer was lower than those of participants who did not eat as much of these nutrients and of those who weighed more.

However, the study also suggests the protective effect does not hold true if the nutrients come from vitamin supplements.

"All we can say is that a person who has reason to be concerned about their risk of developing this cancer, which is relatively rare but quite deadly, should maintain a normal weight and eat their fruit and vegetables," said lead investigator Dr. Eva Schernhammer, of the Harvard Medical School in Boston.