Get fit to lower your colon cancer risk

The Facts:
* Approximately 200 patients who had undergone a colonoscopy in the previous 3 months either continued their usual low exercise lifestyle or started a 12-month exercise programme, in a study to investigate the link between exercise and colon cancer.
* Cells from the colon (lower bowel) were examined at the start and end of the study, for specific markers that are associated with colon cancer.
* Male patients, who had performed on average at least 250 minutes of exercise a week, were found to have a lower level of cancer markers than patients with a lower level or no exercise. No effect was seen in women.

Shaun’s comment: In this large study, strenuous exercise resulted in changes in the bowel cells that would be likely to reduce the chance of cancer. Some caution is required, as the researchers did not actually prove that it reduced bowel cancer. But they did provide some evidence and, importantly, a mechanism to explain how exercise could reduce bowel cancer risk. Overall, a fascinating study and one more great reason to buy some decent running shoes.

Study reference:
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/9/1588