A single 10-minute workout may significantly reduce the risk of colon cancer by triggering beneficial changes in blood chemistry, according to new research from Newcastle University.
New research from Newcastle University suggests that a brief, 10-minute workout could lead to changes in blood chemistry that help combat colon cancer. The study indicates that even short bursts of exercise can have a positive impact on colon cancer cells in laboratory settings.
In the study, U.K. researchers exposed colon cancer cells to human blood serum collected immediately after participants completed a high-intensity cycling workout lasting approximately 10 to 12 minutes. The results showed that the colon cancer cells repaired DNA damage more effectively and exhibited gene activity patterns associated with slower growth.
Samuel T. Orange, an associate professor at Newcastle University and one of the study’s authors, discussed the implications of the findings. “Our findings show that exercise rapidly triggers molecular changes in the bloodstream that can act directly on colon cancer cells, reshaping gene activity and supporting DNA damage repair,” he explained.
The research highlights that even minimal physical activity can yield significant benefits. “Every movement matters. Exercise doesn’t need to last hours or happen in a gym,” Orange emphasized.
One of the most surprising outcomes of the study was the strength of the biological response observed after just a single workout. “Exercise altered the activity of more than 1,000 genes in colon cancer cells,” Orange noted.
The study suggests that the observed effects are driven by exercise-induced molecules, often referred to as “exerkines.” These molecules act as chemical messengers, sending signals throughout the body that may enhance health and resilience against diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
Despite the promising findings, the researchers cautioned that the study was conducted using cancer cells grown in a laboratory setting, rather than in actual patients. The research involved 30 healthy male and female volunteers aged between 50 and 78, whose blood samples were used to carry exercise-triggered signals to the lab-grown cancer cells.
“These findings now need to be replicated in people with cancer,” Orange stated. “We also need to better understand the longer-term effects of repeated exercise signals over time.”
While acknowledging the limitations of the study, Orange reinforced the importance of exercise in colon cancer prevention. “Each time you move your body and get a little breathless, you’re contributing to better health and may help influence biological processes linked to bowel cancer,” he concluded.
According to Fox News, the study underscores the potential of even brief physical activity to play a crucial role in cancer prevention strategies.