From IDEA to ALPHA and MORE EXERCISE EQUALS FEWER BREAST CANCERS

A recent report of the continuing ALPHA trial (Alberta Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Prevention) by Christine Friedenreich, PhD not only gives more evidence that physical activity lowers the risk for breast cancer but gives insight into mechanisms at work (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/753114).


The study was designed to examine the effect of a year long supervised exercise intervention on biomarkers associated with breast cancer.  Previously these researchers have reported lower estrogen levels with exercise in postmenopausal women.  


The trial of 320 healthy but inactive women, 156 agreed to one year of supervised exercise 5 days a week for 45 minutes.  The ages of the women ranged from 50 to 74 years.  The control group did not change activity level and neither group changed diet.  


The results reported at this time reveal a lower C-reactive protein (CRP) level in the exercisers.  This is a protein which is a biomarker for inflammation.  Although we don't know exactly how inflammation raises cancer risks, we know that chronic inflammation produces chemicals in the body that encourage cell proliferation and suppress normal cell death, which increases cancer risk.


We are getting closer to the answer for how exercise reduces cancer risk, in the meantime, we know exercise works.  


MORE EXERCISE LEADS TO FEWER BREAST CANCERS!!!