Researchers Discover that 10 Minutes of Vigorous Exercise Reduces the Risk of Bowel Cancer and Cancer Growth In Adults

After breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer, bowel cancer follows as the fourth most common type of cancer in the United Kingdom where one person is diagnosed with bowel cancer every 12 minutes, totaling around 44,000 cases per year, with one person dying from the disease every 30 minutes.

After a team of researchers at Newcastle University conducted a study on 30 healthy volunteers of overweight or obese men and women between the ages of 50 and 78, with each volunteer completing short intense cycling test exercise that lasted for about 10 minutes, the researchers discovered from collected blood samples and examined 249 proteins that exercise raises the levels of several small molecules in the blood, with many of the molecules found to reduce inflammation, support healthy blood vessels, and improve metabolism.

Thirteen of the 249 proteins, including IL-6 (interleukin-6) which plays a role in repairing damaged DNA, increased at the end of the exercise. The study observed that brief, intense or vigorous exercise quickly changes the mixture of molecules usually circulating in the bloodstream of the human body, with rapid changes notedly suppressing bowel cancer cell growth while speeding up the repair of damaged DNA and activating PNKP (polynucleotide kinase-phosphatase) which is a key gene that is decisive for repairing broken strands of DNA molecules.

The Newcastle University researchers or scientists observed widespread genetic changes after exposing the bowel cancer cells in the laboratory to blood containing a mixture of molecules. More than 1,300 genes (including genes involved in repairing DNA, producing energy, and growing cancer cells) changed their activity, and the activity of genes that support mitochondrial energy metabolism increased, thereby making it possible for cells use to oxygen more efficiently.

The study conducted by the team of Newcastle University researchers shows that exercise sends molecular signals through the bloodstream and the signals influence genes that control tumor growth and genetic stability. However, genes linked to rapid cell division were turned down, which may make cancer cells to become less aggressive.

Dr. Sam Orange, who is a senior lecturer in Clinical Exercise Physiology at Newcastle University, a clinical exercise Physiologist at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS (National Health Service) Foundation Trust,  and the lead author of the study, made the following statements:

“What’s remarkable is that exercise doesn’t just benefit healthy tissues, it sends powerful signals through the bloodstream that can directly influence thousands of genes in cancer cells.”

“It’s an exciting insight because it opens the door to find ways that mimic or augment the biological effects of exercise, potentially improving cancer treatment and, crucially, patient outcomes.”

“In the future, these insights could lead to new therapies that imitate the beneficial effects of exercise on how cells repair damaged DNA and use fuel for energy.”

Further statements made by Dr. Orange:

“These results suggest that exercise doesn’t just benefit healthy tissues, it may also create a more hostile environment for cancer cells to grow.”

“Even a single workout can make a difference. One bout of exercise, lasting just 10 minutes, sends powerful signals to the body.”

“It’s a reminder that every step, every session, counts when it comes to doing your best to protect your health.”

Concluding remarks

The results of the study conducted by the team of Newcastle University researchers adds to growing evidence in other studies which have observed that exercising or staying physically active is an important part of cancer prevention: 10 minutes of intense exercise can reduce the risk of cancer and cancer growth and flip genetic switches that help stop bowel cancer.

To be precise, researchers estimate that regular physical exercise or activity reduces cancer risk by about 20%. As pointed out by researchers, the exercise does not have to be done in the gym or done as gym workouts: walking, biking, along with everyday physical activities such as gardening or cleaning, can be done vigorously to reduce the risk of bowel cancer and cancer growth.

In the future, the Newcastle University research team plans to examine whether repeated exercise sessions cause long-lasting biological changes in the human body.