
GLP-1 medications lower the cancer risk of 10 common obesity related cancers for diabetes patients, according to research published in JAMA Network Open on July 5, 2024.
In this study, the researchers used electronic health records (EHRs) of 113 million patients of US who were prescribed GLP-1 RAs, insulin, or metformin between 2005 and 2018.
Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are more effective to reduce the obesity related cancer risk among type 2 diabetes patients than insulin does.
GLP-1 medications have been used to treat type 2 diabetes for almost 20 years. A new generation of this drug (Ozempic-a product of Novo Nordisk, and Mounjaro, a product of Eli Lilly) has proved efficacy to control blood sugar and reduce body weight. This was approved in 2017.
According to research, GLP-1 medications shows success over insulin in this way-
Gallbladder cancer by 65%
Meningioma by 63%
Pancreatic cancer by 59%
Hepatocellular carcinoma by 53%
Ovarian cancer by 48%
Colorectal cancer by 46%
Multiple myeloma by 41%
Esophageal cancer by 40%
Endometrial cancer by 26%
Kidney cancer by 24%
The new generations of GLP-1 medications have reduced body weight almost 20% on average.
The researchers said that these findings are preliminary and those were based on high-risk population. They also told that the preventive effects of the new generation drugs are warranted.