A Swedish research team has uncovered a potentially significant link between increased cardiorespiratory fitness activity (CRF) by 3% or more had a 35% reduced risk of developing prostate cancer.
Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, their findings suggest that even small improvements in fitness levels could lead to substantial reductions in prostate cancer risk, offering hope for disease prevention among men.
Prostate cancer ranks as the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths among American men, trailing only lung cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 35,000 men will succumb to prostate cancer in the nation this year, with nearly 300,000 new cases expected to emerge.
While the benefits of physical activity on cancer risk reduction are well-documented for several cancers, the relationship between physical fitness and prostate cancer remains less clear. Most previous studies have only assessed fitness levels at a single time point, failing to capture potential changes over time or their impact on prostate cancer risk and mortality.
To address this gap, researchers from the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH) conducted a comprehensive analysis using date from a national occupational health profile in Sweden.
“This is the largest study to examine the relationships between change in CRF (cardiorespiratory fitness) and cancer incidence and mortality, and the first study to examine change in CRF specifically on prostate cancer incidence and mortality,” said Dr. Kate Bolam, a lead author from the Department of Physical Activity and Health at GIH.
“Improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness in adult men should be encouraged and may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.”
This dataset included information on physical activity, lifestyle factors, perceived health, body mass measurements, height, and results from at least two CRF tests.
The study focused on 57,652 Swedish men whose CRF performance was measured using Zone 2 and VO2 max tests while cycling on stationary bikes.
Participants were then categorized based on changes in their fitness levels and followed from their last assessment date to either the diagnosis of prostate cancer, death from any cause, or until December 31, 2019 – whichever occurred first.
On an average follow-up period of nearly seven years, 592 men (1% of the sample) were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 46 died from the disease. The analysis revealed a noteworthy association between improved cardiorespiratory fitness and reduced prostate cancer risk.
Specifically, individuals who experienced a 3% or greater annual increase in fitness were found to be 35% less likely to develop prostate cancer compared to those whose fitness levels declined, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors.
However, it’s important to note that the study’s observational nature precludes the establishment of causal relationships or identification of genetic factors that my influence both cardiorespiratory fitness and cancer risk.
While the findings offer valuable insights into potential benefits of fitness improvements in prostate cancer prevention, further research is needed to validate these findings and explore underlying mechanisms.
Nonetheless, the study highlights the importance of regular physical activity and fitness maintenance in promoting overall health and reducing the risk of prostate cancer.
Recommended For You
