Friday, August 30, 2013

Metformin and PCa

There was an interesting paper on the use of metformin and the reduction of prostate cancer. The article by Margel et al concludes:

Adjusted HR for PC-specific mortality was 0.76 (95% CI, 0.64 to 0.89) for each additional 6 months of metformin use. The association with all-cause mortality was also significant but declined over time from an HR of 0.76 in the first 6 months to 0.93 between 24 and 30 months. There was no relationship between cumulative use of other antidiabetic drugs and either outcome... Increased cumulative duration of metformin exposure after PC diagnosis was associated with decreases in both all-cause and PC-specific mortality among diabetic men. 

 Generally we know that metformin is used in Type 2 Diabetes and that in addition Type 2 Diabetics are obese. We also know that they generally consume high carbs and often have high oxidants resulting therefrom. Metformin increases insulin secretion somewhat and thus may drive down this process. This of course is speculation, logically somewhat correct, but of interest.