- In a small study, a single 10 minute bout of vigorous cycling changed proteins and other molecules in the blood
- When researchers applied post exercise blood serum to bowel cancer cells, they saw changes in activity across more than 1,000 genes
- The work helps explain why physical activity is linked to lower bowel cancer risk, but it does not mean ten minutes is a treatment
A burst of intense exercise may do more than improve fitness.
Researchers at Newcastle University report that a short, hard cycling session changed circulating signals in the blood in ways that affected bowel cancer cells in laboratory experiments.
The study involved 30 volunteers aged 50 to 78 who were overweight or obese but otherwise healthy.
Each person completed a vigorous cycling test lasting about ten minutes.
Blood samples taken after exercise showed measurable shifts in proteins and signalling molecules.
The team then exposed bowel cancer cells to serum taken after exercise.
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They reported widespread changes in gene activity, including increased activity in pathways involved in DNA repair and energy metabolism and reduced activity in signals linked to rapid cell growth.
This lab based work is aimed at understanding mechanism, not proving that one workout prevents cancer.
The broader message fits what we already know.
Bowel cancer risk is lower in people who are physically active, and even modest activity can add up over time.
