Metformin May Offer Similar Benefits as Exercise for Those With Prostate Cancer

The diabetes drug metformin may provide similar results to exercise in people with prostate cancer. Image Credit: Brothers91/Getty Images. A common diabetes drug may mimic one key effect of exercise in those with prostate cancer. Researchers found metformin boosts an “exercise molecule” linked to appetite and weight control, even in those unable to stay active. While not a substitute for exercise, the drug could help individuals manage treatment-related weight gain and metabolic health. Regular exercise is associated with a wide range of health benefits, including a reduced risk of cancer. Physical activity is also important during the treatment of certain cancers, such as prostate cancer, where treatment itself may lead to weight gain or other metabolic dysfunction. Scientists previously identified an exercise-induced molecule — known as N-lactoyl-phenylalanine (Lac-Phe), a compound released during physical activity — associated with weight loss and decreased appetite, and it appears to be stimulated by metformin, a diabetes drug. In an exploratory study, researchers found that prostate cancer patients treated with metformin had Lac-Phe levels comparable to those seen after strenuous exercise. The findings were published on April 6 in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine. Researchers initially identified Lac-Phe, a molecule produced during exercise, in healthy people and athletes, including ultramarathon runners, and later found elevated levels in people with diabetes treated with metformin. “Altered metabolism is one of the hallmarks of cancer. So, what would happen with cancer patients treated with metformin?” said first study author Marijo Bilusic, MD, PhD, a genitourinary medical oncologist at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. “In our study, we were very surprised to see that the level of Lac-Phe in our prostate cancer patients was exactly the same as the level of ultramarathoners. This has never been reported before,” he told Healthline. While metformin did