Overview
- Researchers drew blood from 30 overweight or obese men before and after a 10–12 minute cycling bout and tested its effects on cultured bowel cancer cells.
- Post-exercise samples showed increases in 13 proteins linked to lower inflammation, improved vascular function, metabolism, and DNA repair.
- When applied to cancer cells, the post-exercise serum shifted the activity of 1,364 genes tied to energy production, DNA repair, and cell growth.
- The authors say the findings, published in the International Journal of Cancer, offer a mechanistic clue that complements epidemiological links between activity and lower risk.
- The team plans studies on repeated exercise and interactions with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, while stressing that the laboratory results are preliminary.