Metformin has been used for decades as one of the most common medicines for type 2 diabetes.
Doctors around the world prescribe it because it helps lower blood sugar, is generally affordable, and has a long record of safe use for most patients.
Over the past several years, scientists have also become interested in metformin for another reason. Growing evidence suggests that its benefits may extend well beyond diabetes.
A new review led by researchers at the University of Otago in New Zealand has added another possible benefit to the list. The study suggests that men with type 2 diabetes who take metformin may have a lower risk of developing prostate cancer.
The findings also support previous research showing that metformin is linked with lower risks of death, heart disease, and dementia.
Type 2 diabetes affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide. It develops when the body cannot use insulin properly, causing blood sugar to remain too high.
If left untreated, diabetes can damage the heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves, and blood vessels. Because of these risks, researchers are always looking for treatments that not only control blood sugar but also improve long-term health.
For this study, the research team reviewed scientific papers published over the past 10 years. Together, the studies included information from about 2.25 million people with type 2 diabetes who were taking metformin.
Rather than carrying out a new clinical trial, the researchers combined and evaluated findings from previous studies to look for overall patterns.
As expected, the review found that metformin was associated with lower risks of death, cardiovascular disease, and dementia. However, one result surprised the researchers. Men taking metformin also appeared to have lower rates of prostate cancer than those who were not taking the medicine.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. It develops in the prostate gland, which is part of the male reproductive system. The risk increases with age, family history, and some genetic factors.
Although many prostate cancers grow slowly, others can spread and become life-threatening. Finding safe ways to reduce risk could have major public health benefits.
Associate Professor Yoram Barak, the senior author of the study, said scientists have previously suggested that metformin may have anti-cancer properties, but its possible link with lower prostate cancer risk had not been clearly highlighted before.
He believes the findings are encouraging but also stressed that it is too early to recommend metformin for people who do not have diabetes.
Instead, he believes metformin should remain an important part of treatment for men with type 2 diabetes when appropriate. Because the medicine is already widely used and familiar to doctors, any additional health benefits could improve the long-term outlook for many patients.
The researchers also discussed the growing field of senolytic research, which focuses on slowing unhealthy aspects of aging. Scientists hope that medicines targeting the aging process may one day help delay diseases that become more common in later life.
As populations continue to age, finding treatments that improve healthy aging has become an important goal.
The findings should be interpreted with caution. This research was based on a review of previous studies, so it cannot prove that metformin directly prevents prostate cancer.
Other lifestyle or health differences between patients may have influenced the results. Large clinical trials will be needed before doctors can say whether metformin itself reduces cancer risk.
Overall, the study adds to growing evidence that metformin may provide health benefits beyond blood sugar control. If future research confirms these findings, this familiar diabetes medicine could become even more valuable in protecting long-term health.
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The study was published in Rejuvenation Research.
Source: University of Otago.
