Short Workout May Slow Bowel Cancer Growth, Study Suggests

A ten-minute workout could halt bowel cancer growth, according to a recent study.

Scientists from Newcastle University discovered that physical activity protects against bowel cancer progression. They found that even a short burst of exercise can cause a rapid molecular change in the blood.

The research, published in the Journal of Cancer, involved collecting blood samples from 30 overweight or obese, otherwise healthy men before and after a 10 to 12-minute cycling session. Researchers then exposed bowel cancer cells to these different blood samples and measured the cells’ response.

The cycling session increased the level of 13 proteins in the blood. Many of these proteins are linked to reduced inflammation, improved blood vessel function, and a healthier metabolism.

When blood taken after exercise was applied to bowel cancer cells, 1,364 genes showed altered activity. These affected genes play a role in energy production, DNA repair, and cancer cell growth.

Last year, researchers persistent that exercise was “better than a drug” for improving bowel cancer recovery. The team behind this study believes their findings may provide a new understanding of how exercise impacts cancer progression and could lead to new preventative strategies.

Key Takeaways

• even a short, 10-12 minute workout can trigger molecular changes in the blood.
• These changes involve increased levels of proteins linked to better health and reduced inflammation.
• Exercise impacts gene activity in bowel cancer cells, affecting energy production, DNA repair, and cell growth.
• Exercise might potentially be a powerful tool in both preventing and improving recovery from bowel cancer.