New research has examined the relationship between cancer and exercise, and has led scientists to make some interesting conclusions.
The small study, published in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, analyzed health data from 32 breast cancer survivors. The study found that high-intensity interval training and resistance training may play a role in stopping cancer from returning.
During the study, the patients were assigned to do a single session of resistance training or high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Researchers collected blood samples before the patient’s workouts, immediately after they finished exercising, and 30 minutes later. The scientists were looking for specific markers in the patient’s blood, including decorin, interleukin 6, secreted acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), and oncostatin M (OSM), all of which are tumor-suppressing elements. They were also looking for the growth of MDA-MB-231, a breast cancer cell line.
Researchers discovered that the levels of the cancer-suppressing factors were ‘significantly increased’ after both the HIIT and resistance training workouts. Cancer cell growth was ‘significantly reduced’ after both, but HIIT workouts had the biggest effect on cancer cell growth reduction.
The scientists concluded that this study “highlights the importance of exercise as a treatment with promising anti-cancer effects.”
This isn’t the first study to promote exercise with better cancer outcomes. Previous research has found that exercise may reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and mortality by up to 28%.
It’s important to note the limitations in this study — it’s an extremely small group of patients, and the scientists were measuring very specific markers. While more research is needed, it’s another study to support the idea that exercise has a beneficial impact on cancer recurrence.
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