Researchers study if anti-diabetic medications lower prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels in men.
Previous research has found that diabetic men are less likely to have prostate cancer, however, the reasons for this remain unclear.
In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers looked at data from the Stockholm PSA and Biopsy registry from men aged 40-79 years of age. Each participant had his PSA levels tested before and after anti-diabetic medication use. Participants were prescribed one of three anti-diabetic medications: Metformin, Sulfonylurea, or Insulin.
The study found that taking anti-diabetic medication did not lower PSA levels in men. These results differ from previous studies’ findings. Furthermore, the study reported that men on anti-diabetic medication were less likely to have PSA testing than men who had not taken anti-diabetic medication. They were also less likely to have a prostate biopsy.
Written by Laura Laroche, HBASc, Medical Writer
References:
Diabetes Medications, Prostate-Specific Antigen Values, and the Chemoprevention of Prostate Cancer. 2019, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2753984, assessed Nov 7, 2019.
Velaer, Kyla N., Leppert, John T. “Association Between Antidiabetic Medications and Prostate-Specific Antigen Levels and Biopsy Results”. JAMA. November 6, 2019. Online.
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