Diabetes patients rely upon metformin for controlling their blood sugar and insulin levels. Now, a new study claims that this common diabetes drug has many other health benefits to offer, and these can mimic the benefits of 'intense workouts.' The diabetes drug metformin is used by millions around the world who are struggling with this lifestyle disorder—it releases weight-regulating compounds in the body, the same ones that are released during workouts in inactive people. American scientists found that the drug can have a positive impact on a sedentary lifestyle—find out how.What is metformin?Metformin is the most common drug for the management of type 2 diabetes. It helps insulin work better, thereby regulating blood sugar spikes. This drug is usually prescribed when diet and workouts alone are not sufficient for weight management. According to a study by experts at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, metformin may replicate the benefits of workouts in people who follow a sedentary, inactive lifestyle. In the case of prostate cancer patients, men who do not work out because of their treatment benefited from metformin use, as the drug raises levels of a molecule that supports weight loss. In the case of patients who cannot work out properly, the effect can be game-changing.Are workouts necessary during cancer treatment?Exercising is one of the best ways to avoid obesity and other metabolic disorders. It is also one of the best ways to stay strong during cancer treatment, as it regulates weight, heart health, and blood sugar. This helps cancer patients feel stronger even during treatment and recovery. However, many cancer patients cannot work out regularly because of hormone therapy-related fatigue. Metformin use, in this case, can prove helpful for patients.How does metformin mimic the benefits of workouts?Exercising benefits the body by releasing hormones such as oxytocin and dopamine. Researchers from the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center explored whether these could be triggered without exercise and whether metformin could do that. They noted that while the drug cannot fully replace workouts as part of a healthy routine, there is a need to understand how a widely used drug can be beneficial for metabolic health during prostate cancer treatment.N-lactoyl-phenylalanine, or Lac-Phe, is a molecule that spikes after an intense workout session, and it also regulates appetite and calorie burning. Scientists found that Lac-Phe levels were higher in metformin users even when they were not working out. The Sylvester team noted that prostate cancer patients often struggle with poor blood sugar control, heart disease risk, and weight gain due to hormone therapy. They then took blood samples from 29 people and found that the patients who took metformin had similar Lac-Phe levels to people who were engaged in strenuous workouts. This was noted even when the patients were not exercising. However, metformin did not have an impact on prostate tumours.The study was published in the EMBO Molecular Medicine journal.