Higher physical activity levels and less time spent sitting may “very likely” reduce breast cancer risk, according to a new study.
The findings, published online Tuesday in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, are generally consistent across all types and stages of the disease, and researchers recommend a focus on exercise as a way to prevent breast cancer. doing.
“These findings are critical to cancer control efforts around the world,” said Brigid Lynch, one of the study’s authors and Associate Professor of Cancer Epidemiology at the Cancer Council of Australia. I’m here.
“To date, cancer control has not focused heavily on increased physical activity. This study shows that physical activity needs to be increased, both literally and figuratively. ‘ she said.
The research paper notes that observational studies have reported that an active lifestyle is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer, but these have conclusively determined whether activity is a protective factor. It was not possible to decide.
According to the paper, the study provides “strong evidence” that higher levels of physical activity and less time spent sitting are likely to reduce the risk of breast cancer, and the results suggest that breast cancer subtypes It is generally consistent throughout.
This study used Mendelian randomization, a technique that uses genetic variation as a surrogate for specific risk factors, to find that lifelong physical activity and sedentary time correlated with breast cancer risk in general, and different types in particular. was assessed for a causal relationship with tumors.
These included data from 130,957 women of European descent. Of these, 69,838 had locally metastatic tumors and 6,667 had tumors that had not yet metastasized. The rest were her comparison group of 54,452 women without breast cancer.
These women participated in 76 studies supported by the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC), a forum for researchers interested in genetic risk for breast cancer.
The researchers then used previously published studies to genetically predict whether their study participants would be physically active or inactive. The next step was to estimate the overall breast cancer risk depending on whether the women were menopausal. It depends on the type, stage, and grade of cancer.
Analysis of the data showed that a higher genetically predicted overall level of physical activity was associated with a 41% lower risk of invasive breast cancer. This was not significantly related to menopausal status, tumor type, stage, or grade.
The genetically predicted three or more days of vigorous physical activity per week was associated with a 38% lower risk of breast cancer compared to self-reported inactivity. A higher genetically predicted level of sedentary time was associated with a 104% higher risk of triple-negative breast cancer.
