Incremental enhancements in cardiovascular fitness year by year could potentially decrease the likelihood of prostate cancer in males aged 40 and above. Engaging in regular cardiovascular exercises can yield positive outcomes on various fronts such as hormone regulation, inflammation reduction, and bolstering immune system resilience — all of which are pivotal in mitigating cancer risks.
Beyond merely facilitating smoother endurance during rigorous physical activities, recent research underscores the potential of improved cardiorespiratory fitness in curbing the incidence of prostate cancer among men.
The investigation delved into data from over 57,000 male participants in Sweden who underwent multiple assessments of their cardiovascular fitness across several years. These evaluations encompassed measurements of heart rate and oxygen utilization efficiency during stationary bike exercises. The average age of the participants was 41, and none had a history of prostate cancer at the commencement of the study. Over a follow-up period averaging nearly seven years, 592 individuals received diagnoses of prostate cancer.
Interestingly, while initial levels of cardiovascular fitness didn’t directly correlate with prostate cancer risk, the study unearthed a significant relationship between changes in fitness over time and cancer incidence. Specifically, men who experienced annual improvements of at least 3 percent in their cardiorespiratory fitness over a span of five years exhibited a notable 35 percent reduction in the likelihood of developing prostate cancer during the study duration. These findings, outlined in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, shed light on the potential preventive benefits of consistent cardiovascular exercise in combating prostate cancer.
“Cardiorespiratory fitness essentially refers to how well our circulatory and respiratory systems are able to supply oxygen to our muscles during physical activity or exercise,” lead study author Kate Bolam, PhD, of the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences in Stockholm, said.
“We don’t know for sure why fitness might reduce risk of prostate cancer,” Dr. Bolam also said. “But we do know that physical activity and fitness have positive effects on inflammation, our immune system, hormones, and body composition — and all these things have been linked to cancer risk for certain cancers.”
Throughout the research period, 46 male individuals succumbed to prostate cancer. The varying levels of cardiorespiratory fitness did not seem to significantly impact the likelihood of survival.
Frequent Exercise and Improved Fitness Level May Lower Cancer Risk
Furthermore, the correlation between enhanced fitness and a decrease in the risk of prostate cancer appeared to be less pronounced among men who initially possessed high fitness levels compared to those with greater potential for improvement at the onset of the study.
Several caveats should be considered regarding these findings. Firstly, the participants were all employed, suggesting potential variations in outcomes for individuals lacking steady employment. Additionally, the results obtained from a predominantly white population in Sweden might not accurately represent the experiences of men from diverse racial or ethnic backgrounds.
Moreover, Kerry Courneya, PhD, a professor and director of the Exercise Oncology Laboratory at the University of Alberta in Canada, suggested that the impact of cardiorespiratory fitness levels on cancer risk might not be direct.
“It is unlikely that improved cardiorespiratory fitness itself is responsible for the lower risk of prostate cancer,” Dr. Courneya, who wasn’t part of the new study, shared. “Rather, it is likely that cardiorespiratory fitness is a good marker of high quality exercise — with sufficient frequency, intensity, and duration to improve cardiorespiratory fitness.”
Exercises That Help Cardio Fitness
June Chan, ScD, a professor of urology, epidemiology, and biostatistics at the University of California in San Francisco, emphasizes that a diverse range of workouts can yield significant improvements. She notes that even individuals who are currently out of shape can begin with gentler exercises and gradually progress to more intense routines. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that she was not part of the recent study.
“Brisk walking, dancing, swimming, Zumba, jogging, cycling, [and] sports are all activities that can help someone get their heart rate up — and increasing heart rate during physical activity is what improves cardiorespiratory fitness,” Dr. Chan advised.
Chan emphasized that gradually increasing the duration of exercise and the frequency of workouts per week is the optimal approach for achieving results. This strategy can minimize the risk of injury, facilitate the adoption of a new workout regimen, and enhance the likelihood of its long-term sustainability.
“While how much one increases heart rate and for how long is directly correlated with improving cardiorespiratory fitness, I think it’s important for people to increase gradually from where they are starting, and that means both in terms of duration of activity and number of sessions per week,” Chan further stated.
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