Exercising at 8am and 6pm could 'reduce bowel cancer risk'
Exercising in the morning and evening may reduce the risk of bowel cancer by 11%, potentially improving cancer-prevention strategies, a new study has found.
Published in BMC Medicine, the research used data from UK Biobank to assess 86,252 people (56% women) aged 42 to 79, who tracked their physical activity by wearing an accelerometer - a device that measures motion or acceleration - on their wrist.
529 cases of bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, occurred during a 5.3-year follow up.
Researchers looked at four activity periods: exercise throughout the day, late-day activity, early- plus late-day activity, and midday plus night-time activity.
The results
They found that two daily peaks in activity at 8am and 6pm were 'associated with lowered colorectal cancer risk, beyond the benefits of overall physical activity', with the risk reduced by 11%.
That was in comparison to a 6% lowered risk for exercise performed throughout the day and a 7% reduced risk for late-day activity. No change was noticed for activity done in the middle of the day and the night. The findings were consistent even when taking into consideration factors that could increase cancer risk, like smoking and shift work.
Bowel cancer can develop anywhere in the large bowel, including the colon and rectum. It's one of the most common cancers in the world. Your bowel also contains the small bowel (also called the small intestine), but these cancers are rare.
Professor Dr Michael Leitzmann, chair of the department of epidemiology and preventive medicine at Regensburg and lead investigator for the study, said: 'Our study highlights that not only is physical activity important for reducing colorectal cancer risk, but the timing of peak activity throughout the day could play a crucial role.
'By identifying specific times – early morning and late day – when physical activity is most beneficial, our findings open new avenues for targeted prevention strategies.
'If confirmed by future research, this could provide a simple yet impactful way for individuals to further reduce their cancer risk through the timing of their exercise.'
Dr Helen Croker, assistant director of research and policy at the World Cancer Research Fund, which funded the study, said, 'Being physically active is one of our cancer prevention recommendations, and we know that this cuts cancer risk. These intriguing new findings offer potential for developing more specific recommendations, including patterns and timing of physical activity, for reducing cancer risk.'
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