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Colorectal
Cancer and Exercise
The
role of exercise in cancer is the subject of many studies and
considerable debate at present. The cancer most studied for its
relationship to cancer is colorectal cancer.
In fact, at least 30 studies have examined the association
between physical activity and developing colon cancer. Colon
Cancer At
least 29 studies have focused on the relationship between colon cancer
and exercise. These studies were conducted in diverse population groups
in various countries including China, Denmark, Japan, New Zealand,
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States.
Of these, 14 reported a significant relationship between exercise
and colon cancer.
Specifically, increase in activity led towards a decrease in
colon cancer risk.
Four of the studies showed no relationship. Just
looking at a couple of the studies highlights some interesting
observations.
For example, Lee and his colleagues (Lee et al., 1991) looked at
over 17,000 Harvard alumni, aged 30-79 years who were followed
prospectively for the occurrence of colon cancer and rectal cancer.
They found that physical activity based on self-reported stair
climbing, walking and sports play was not associated with a change in
risk for colon cancer.
On the other hand, highly active individuals (energy expenditure
of > 2500 kilocalories per week) had half the incidence of those that
expended less than 1000 kilocalories per week.
As a matter of clarification for the reader,
what most lay people call a calorie is technically a kilocalorie,
or Kcal.
Bottom line: in this large study, vigorous activity was
associated with a significant decrease in the risk of developing colon
cancer.
Another
study, this one from Stanford University (Whittemore et al. 1990),
looked at colon cancer risks among Chinese men and women living both in
the People's Republic of China, and the Western United States.
This study looked at exercise and diet as risk factors for colon
cancer.
The findings indicate that the group that spent the most time
sitting (reflecting sedentary lifestyles and occupations) had the
highest incidence of colon cancer.
Other interesting findings were that a diet high in saturated fat
was also a risk factor, and that those who were most sedentary and
consumed the most saturated fat had a four fold higher incidence of
colon cancer than those who were the least sedentary and consumed the
least saturated fat.
Rectal
Cancer Rectal
cancer does not appear to be associated with a lack of exercise, at
least in most studies.
For example, of 13 studies that looked at occupational activity
and rectal cancer, 10 reported no relationship.
Two others found a decrease in incidence with increased physical
activity, and 1 found an increase in incidence with increased activity.
The conclusion of the CDC is that there does not appear to be a
relationship between exercise and rectal cancer. It must be pointed out that the benefits of exercise in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease are well established, and there definitely appears to be a decrease in risk of colon cancer. Once again, we come to some basics. You can optimize your chances of living a long and healthy life by maintaining a consistent exercise program, maintaining an optimal weight, and eating a diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables and a minimal amount of red meat and saturated fat. Article
By Michael Guthrie, R.Ph. Lee,
I.M., Paffenbarger, R.S. Jr., Hsieh, C. (1991). Physical activity and
the risk of developing colorectal cancer among college alumni.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1991 Sep18;83(18):1324-9 Whittemore,
A.S. Wu-Williams, A.H., et al. (1990). Diet, physical activity, and
colorectal cancer among Chinese in North America and China. Journal
of the National Cancer Institute 1990 June 6;82(11):915-26 Back to Alternative Cancer Treatments HomePage
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"Alternative Cancer Treatments"
Michael Guthrie,
R.Ph. CGP 2003-2006
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