What the research shows about supplements and repurposed drugs in cancer, and what it does not.

Independent reviews of published studies, graded by evidence level. None of these supplements or drugs is proven as a cancer treatment.

Articles

Supplement and pharmaceutical evidence, held to the same standard, on the same page.

GLP-1 Medications and Cancer: Could the Weight-Loss Revolution Also Become a Cancer Breakthrough?

GLP-1 Medications and Cancer: Could the Weight-Loss Revolution Also Become a Cancer Breakthrough?

Dr. Johnston looks at studies linking obesity to cancer and examines whether GLP-1 medications are associated with lower cancer risk, noting that the evidence is observational.

Read Article 20 min read

Videos

Recurring formats from the Institute, built for depth over headlines.

GLP-1 Medications and Cancer Risk, Part 2

Dr. Johnston reviews a 2024 study of 1.65 million people with type 2 diabetes in which GLP-1 use was associated with lower risk of 10 of 13 obesity-related cancers compared with insulin, a 2025 comparison with bariatric surgery, and a laboratory finding involving natural killer cells. The studies are observational and cannot prove GLP-1 drugs prevent cancer.

3:18

GLP-1 Medications and Cancer Risk, Part 1

Dr. Johnston reviews a 2025 observational study of more than 86,000 matched adults with overweight or obesity, with and without diabetes. Cancer rates were lower among GLP-1 users, including 17% lower relative risk overall. He notes the study cannot prove GLP-1 drugs prevent cancer.

3:18

Lycopene and Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies

Dr. Johnston describes a 2025 analysis of 21 prospective studies, with over 108,000 cancer cases and 10,000 deaths, linking higher blood lycopene to lower cancer mortality, lung cancer death and breast cancer incidence. He also cites lab findings. The data are observational, so they show association only.

2:46

Resources

Supplements referenced in Verity's reviews and recommended by the Institute.

Nutricel Blue Boost methylene blue capsule bottle

Methylene Blue Supplements

A resource listed by VHI. USP-grade methylene blue capsules formulated for non-stimulant energy and mental clarity, made by Nutricel.

Led by Dr. J.P. Johnston, a retired family physician with 30 years of clinical experience.

Dr. J.P. Johnston spent three decades practicing family medicine before retiring in 2024. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he prescribed evidence-based supplements and repurposed medications to thousands of patients.

Promising medical research does not always translate quickly into clinical practice—particularly when it involves inexpensive supplements, existing medications used for new purposes, or therapies that lack FDA approval for a particular disease.

Dr. Johnston leads Verity Health Institute’s effort to bridge that gap by bringing published medical research on cancer and other diseases directly to the public. VHI examines the evidence, explains what the research actually found, and gives people the information they need to have better-informed conversations with their healthcare providers.

Other healthcare professionals also contribute their experience and expertise to VHI’s educational mission.

More About the Institute