Researchers learn how metformin may reduce risk of cancer
People who use a metformin regimen to control type 2 diabetes can obtain the medication at cheaper prices from a Canadian internet pharmacy.
People who use a metformin regimen to control type 2 diabetes can obtain the medication at cheaper prices from a Canadian internet pharmacy. Previous studies have suggested that this drug may also reduce diabetics' risk of cancer. New research from McGill University and the University of Montreal has discovered how.
Metformin controls blood sugar in individuals with adult onset diabetes through several mechanisms, according to the National Institutes of Health. It decreases the amount of glucose people absorb, helps regulate glucose production in the liver and increases sensitivity to insulin.
Past research suggested that metformin is active within the mitochondria of cells, where energy is produced. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced as a byproduct of the natural course of metabolism. ROS can potentially damage DNA, and the accumulation of these genetic changes is a known cause of cancer.
The new research indicates that metformin can help slow down the accumulation of DNA damage by reducing the rate of ROS production, as published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.
"This study opens an exciting new direction in cancer-prevention research," said study director Michael Pollak. "This doesn't imply, however, that metformin is now ready to be widely used for cancer prevention."
Further research is needed to understand these findings and if the implications are true for diabetics and non-diabetics, the researchers said.
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