March 9, 2011 – Being physically active (walking, running, working out at the gym, etc.) could help prevent colon cancer. This is confirmed by the results of an analysis1 20 observational clinical studies involving a total of nearly 250,000 subjects.
Conducted between 1991 and 2009, these studies investigated whether physical activity had an effect on the formation of polyps in the digestive tract. Polyps are often benign, but can form cancerous tumors over the long term.
In each of the studies analyzed, subjects were subjected to a colonoscopy and a survey to measure their level of physical activity. The results indicate that, compared to those who engaged in the least physical activity, those who engaged in the most activity were 16% less likely to develop polyps.
More interestingly, the more active were 36% less likely to have large or very advanced polyps in their development. Researchers therefore believe that regular exercise could help the body to eradicate polyps before they get bigger.
According to the researchers, physical activity has several physiological effects that could explain the observed protective effect: it would increase immune activity, reduce insulin resistance and increase vitamin D levels in those who are activated by it. ‘outside.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
1. Wolin KY, Yan Y, Colditz GA, Physical activity and risk of colon adenoma: a meta-analysis, British Journal of Cancer, 1er 2011 Mar, 104 (5): 882-5.
