Researchers have found that metformin, commonly prescribed to control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes, could play a protective role against esophageal cancer, one of the most lethal cancers worldwide.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the study revealed that patients taking metformin had a 36% lower risk of developing esophageal cancer compared to non-users. Professor Shai Hao Shi, an expert in gastrointestinal cancers, explained that the drug’s effect may stem from lowering insulin levels, which promote cancer cell growth, while also inhibiting cell proliferation.
The team at Karolinska University Hospital tracked over 13,000 patients from 1994 to 2023, accounting for risk factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, and chronic acid reflux. Findings suggest metformin could be a preventive treatment for those most at risk, including patients with Barrett’s esophagus.
This study highlights the potential for metformin to serve not only as a diabetes treatment but also as an effective preventive measure against one of the deadliest cancers, while further clinical research is needed to fully confirm its benefits.
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