Can weight loss followed by exercise decrease colorectal cancer risk?
Recent research published in the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism investigated the effect of weight loss followed by exercise on colorectal cancer risk.
The occurrence of colorectal cancer is increasing within the young adult population in the United States, and it is currently one of the most common cancers in the world. Research conducted within the last few years has discovered that cells within the bone marrow, which produce blood cells, have a critical role in the production of colorectal cancer. Until recently, not much was known about how losing weight through diet and exercise affects these blood cells and decreases the colorectal cancer risk.
Researchers from the University of Ottawa in Canada and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the United States collaborated to study the effect of weight loss followed by exercise on colorectal cancer risk in a mouse model. They published their results in American Journal of Physiology – Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Sedentary mice had more fat and inflammation
Every mouse included in the study had cancer and were given a high-fat diet and became obese until they were then placed on a normal rodent diet for the rest of the study. Following two months of weight loss on the normal diet, half of the mice were exercised on a daily basis whilst the other half were kept sedentary. The results of the study showed that despite having lost weight, the sedentary mice had a greater level of colon and bone marrow inflammation in addition to more fat tissue within the bone marrow. The lack of exercise also resulted in changes to the blood cells.
After weight loss mice had less inflammation and tumor formation
On the other hand, the mice that were exercised were found to have less inflammation and tumor formation following the weight loss. The researchers of this study highlighted that the rate of tumor production in the exercise group was similar to the control mice that were exposed to cancerous cells but were not obese.
Researchers of this study stated in a recent press release, “Obesity induces long-term changes in [blood cell development] and the bone marrow microenvironment that persists even when weight and body composition improved.”
The findings suggest that individuals who are at an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer, such as those with obesity, should consider exercise training with dietary interventions to decrease their risk.
Written by Jade Marie Evans, MPharm, Medical Writer
References:
- Emmons , R et al. Effects of obesity and exercise on colon cancer induction and hematopoiesis in mice. 2018. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism . [Online]. [4 January 2019]. Available from: https://www.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajpendo.00237.2018
- Eurekalert . 2018. Exercise following weight loss may reduce colorectal cancer risk, study finds. [Online]. [4 January 2019]. Available from: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-12/aps-efw121218.php
