To the prostate is a gland of the male genital tract, located under the bladder, in front of the rectum and which secretes part of the fluid making up semen. THE prostate cancer develops from prostate cells which transform and multiply in an anarchic manner, until forming a malignant tumor. It’s about most common cancer in men, according to the Health Insurance website. Around 71,000 cases per year are diagnosed, causing just under 9,000 annual deaths, according to Vidal.fr.
The risk of prostate cancer increases with age. It is rare before the age of 50 and especially diagnosed around the age of 70. Beyond age, there is other risk factors such as genetic or ethnic predispositions, but also environmental factors such as poor diet or obesity, but scientific research on the subject still remains scarce. However, simple lifestyle changes could reduce the risk of suffering from prostate cancer, according to scientists.
Prostate cancer: improving your cardiorespiratory condition by 3% could reduce the risk by 35%
This is what observed a Swedish study published on January 30, 2024 in the British Journal of Sport Medicine. Son but ? Determining the impact of improving cardiorespiratory fitness over time on prostate cancer risks. To do this, the researchers analyzed data on physical activity, lifestyle, perceived health, measurement of body mass and height, as well as the results of at least two more cardiorespiratory fitness tests. of 57,000 men. Measurements of cardiorespiratory fitness were expressed as absolute and relative VO2 max, that is, the volume of oxygen used by the body during exercise as intense as possible.
At the end of the study, the scientists observed that an annual increase in absolute cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with a 2% reduction in the risk of prostate cancer, but not of death, after taking into account the potentially influential factors. Moreover, those whose cardiorespiratory fitness improved by 3% or more per year were 35% less likely to develop prostate cancer than those whose shape has declined.
Risk of prostate cancer: improving cardiorespiratory fitness would not be effective for everyone
Nonetheless, the researchers noted that when participants were grouped based on their baseline cardiorespiratory fitness, the association between its evolution over time and prostate cancer incidence was only significant for those with moderate baseline cardiorespiratory fitness. Although scientists don’t have a definitive explanation, they suggest that improving cardiorespiratory fitness from an already high base may not confer any discernible additional benefit. For those with low baseline cardiorespiratory fitness, they assume that its increase is not sufficient to reach a threshold necessary to contribute to the reduction of prostate cancer risk. Improving cardiorespiratory fitness may not be as effective in reducing the risk of prostate cancer in everyone.
The scientists also point out that this is an observational study and does not allow the establishment of causal factors, which should not be forgotten about the genetic factors that influence physical condition and risk. to develop prostate cancer.
However, the conclusions of the study advise encouraging men to improve their physical condition, in order to reduce the risk of being affected by the disease. The researchers conclude that “findings highlight the importance of cardiorespiratory fitness for prostate cancer risk, which has been difficult to determine with one-off studies“.
Sources :
- Association between change in cardiorespiratory fitness and prostate cancer incidence and mortality in 57 652 Swedish men – British Journal of Sports Medicine – 30 janvier 2024
- Increase in annual cardiorespiratory fitness by 3%+ linked to 35% lower prostate cancer risk – EurekAlert
- Prostate cancer – Vidal.fr
- Understanding prostate cancer – Ameli.fr
