Researchers have discovered that semaglutide weight loss drugs like Ozempic may reduce the risk of early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) in diabetes patients.
Colon cancer has long been associated with older adults, especially those over 65. However, colorectal cancer rates have been steadily increasing among adults under 50 since the ’90s.
Inspired by this troubling trend, the US Preventive Services Task Force changed its colorectal cancer screening guidelines in 2021 to lower the recommended age to start screening from 50 to 45 for adults at average risk.
In a study presented at the American College of Gastroenterology annual meeting, researchers from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland analyzed data from nearly 2 million patients. These patients were all under 50, had type 2 diabetes, and had no prior colorectal diagnosis.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin well, resulting in high blood sugar. Among this population, patients who were prescribed a semaglutide medication tended to be older, female, and white, with a higher BMI compared to those not taking these medicines.
The researchers determined that those who took semaglutide had significantly lower chances of developing colorectal cancer than those who did not, with rates dropping from 0.7% to 0.4%. The study authors note that “future randomized controlled studies are needed to validate these findings, which may have significant implications for CRC prevention in younger patients.”
Oncologists attribute the disturbing rise in youth cases of colorectal cancer to factors like sedentary lifestyles, the Western diet, excess sugar consumption, and environmental pollutants.
Earlier this year, researchers found that Type 2 diabetes patients could lower their risk for obesity-related cancers by taking Ozempic instead of insulin. Recent findings indicate that drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may also help reduce knee pain for those with osteoarthritis, as well as provide protective benefits against neurodegeneration.
Source: New York Post
