Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
Physical Activity and the Risk of Prostate Cancer
To reduce the risk of prostate cancer, a high level of vigorous physical activity in early adulthood may be required, a new study found. Data were collected on lifetime recreational physical activity from a self-reported questionnaire. The estimated effects of recreation physical activity on prostate cancer risk were analyzed using logistic regression, adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors. Details included:
- The analysis included 569 incident cases and 443 controls.
- There was a significant, inverse dose-response relationship between vigorous-intensity recreational physical activity between the ages 19 and 34 years and the risk of prostate cancer.
- Those in the most active quartile of vigorous-intensity physical activity in this age group had a 33% lower risk of prostate cancer vs those in the least active quartile.
- Moderate-intensity recreational physical activity was not associated with the risk of prostate cancer.
Citation:
Sorial E, Si S, Fritschi L, et al. Lifetime recreational physical activity and the risk of prostate cancer. [Published online ahead of print April 8, 2019]. Cancer Causes Control. doi:10.1007/s10552-019-01138-6.
Continued improvement in prevention strategies for prostate cancer is a significant need. While overall trends for such strategies have been previously demonstrated, details surrounding such strategies are somewhat lacking. Sorial et al. tackle one such area in detail by evaluating not only lifetime activity but also intensity of activity. In this study, only vigorous-intensity activity at a relatively younger age was associated with a decreased risk of prostate cancer. Interestingly, weight training, which has many health benefits besides potential cancer prevention and is more popular now than in the past, was identified as a potential strategy for further study. —Mark A. Klein, MD