A new study suggests that medications commonly used for diabetes, including the popular drug Ozempic, may help reduce the risk of certain obesity-related cancers.
The research, published in JAMA, found that patients with Type 2 diabetes who took GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) had a significantly lower risk of developing 10 out of 13 types of cancer compared to those who were treated with insulin.
A Link Between Obesity, Diabetes, and Cancer
Obesity is a well-known risk factor for at least 13 types of cancer. Since many people with obesity also develop Type 2 diabetes, researchers have been investigating whether diabetes treatments could influence cancer risk. This study provides strong evidence that GLP-1 drugs, such as semaglutide (sold as Ozempic) and liraglutide, may offer protective benefits.
The researchers analyzed data from patients treated between 2005 and 2018 and found that those taking GLP-1 drugs had a lower risk of developing cancers of the kidney, pancreas, esophagus, ovaries, liver, and colon, among others. However, no significant change in risk was observed for thyroid cancer or breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
Why This Matters
Study author Rong Xu highlighted the importance of these findings, saying, “Our study provides evidence that GLP-1RAs hold promise in breaking the link between obesity and cancer.”
GLP-1 receptor agonists have been used for about 20 years to help manage blood sugar levels in diabetes patients. However, newer versions of these drugs, like Ozempic, have gained widespread attention because they also promote significant weight loss.
Since excess weight is a major risk factor for many cancers, this added benefit may be a key reason for the reduced cancer risk observed in the study.
Potential Changes in Diabetes Treatment
These findings may encourage doctors to prescribe GLP-1 drugs instead of insulin for some diabetes patients, especially those who are also overweight or at risk for obesity-related cancers.
While more research is needed to fully understand how GLP-1 drugs provide this protective effect, the study adds to growing evidence that these medications offer benefits beyond diabetes management. In the future, they could play a larger role in preventing serious health conditions linked to obesity, including certain cancers.
The research findings can be found in JAMA Network Open.
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