The Potential of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Lowering Cancer Risk by up to 40%
Maintaining a healthy level of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) could potentially reduce the risk of certain cancers by up to 40%, according to a recent study. The study, which examined data from over a million men, found that individuals with higher CRF levels had a significantly lower risk of developing cancers such as lung, bowel, head and neck, kidney, liver, pancreas, stomach, and esophagus. However, it is important to note that the study only observed correlations and cannot establish causation.
CRF refers to an individual’s ability to engage in aerobic exercises for sustained periods. These activities include swimming, cycling, running, or even climbing stairs. While previous research has suggested a link between CRF and a reduced risk of specific cancers, this study is unique in its examination of multiple types of cancer over a long period of time.
The researchers collected data from the Swedish registry, which provided medical diagnoses, background information, and deaths from participants up until the end of 2019. At the beginning of the study, participants between the ages of 16 and 25 underwent various measurements including CRF, muscular strength, blood pressure, BMI, and height.
Interestingly, participants with low CRF levels were more likely to have a history of substance and alcohol abuse, and were also more likely to be obese compared to those with higher CRF levels. This suggests that maintaining a healthy level of CRF is not only beneficial for reducing cancer risk but is also associated with overall healthier lifestyle choices.
In total, the study included 365,874 participants with low CRF levels, 519,652 with moderate levels, and 340,952 with high CRF levels. Over the course of an average 33 years of monitoring, approximately 7% of the participants developed cancer in at least one site. Higher levels of CRF were consistently associated with a reduced risk of developing certain types of cancer.
Specifically, the study found that higher CRF levels were linked to a 5% reduction in rectal cancer risk, a 12% reduction in pancreatic cancer risk, an 18% reduction in bowel cancer risk, a 19% reduction in head and neck cancer risk, a 20% reduction in kidney cancer risk, a 21% reduction in stomach cancer risk, a 39% reduction in esophageal cancer risk, a 40% reduction in liver cancer risk, and a significant 42% reduction in lung cancer risk.
However, it is worth noting that higher CRF levels were also associated with a 7% increase in prostate cancer risk and a 31% increase in skin cancer risk. The researchers suggest that screening for prostate cancer and increased sunlight exposure may contribute to these results. Nonetheless, more research is needed to fully understand these relationships.
As an observational study, this research cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship between CRF and cancer risk. Additionally, the study lacked complete data on other lifestyle risk factors such as smoking, alcohol intake, and diet, which may have influenced the results. Furthermore, the researchers were unable to track changes in CRF levels over time or collect genetic data from participants.
Despite these limitations, this study highlights the potential benefits of maintaining a healthy level of cardiorespiratory fitness in reducing the risk of certain cancers. Engaging in regular aerobic exercise and adopting a healthy lifestyle overall may contribute to lowering one’s cancer risk. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind these associations and to explore the impact of other lifestyle factors on cancer risk.