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13 May 2008
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Exercise reduces breast cancer risk in some women more than others
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MedWire News: Physically active women are significantly less likely to develop breast cancer than their more sedentary counterparts, but some groups of women gain greater benefits from exercise than others, researchers have found.
Dr C Friedenreich, from the Alberta Cancer Board in Calgary, Canada, and Dr A Cust, from the University of Melbourne in Australia, explain that many studies have indicated that physical activity may reduce the risk of breast cancer.
They add: "Given the large number of studies that have been conducted, it is now possible to examine the effect of physical activity among subgroups of the population that have not previously been considered in other reviews of this topic."
The researchers therefore reviewed the results of 62 studies that investigated the impact of physical activity on breast cancer risk.
They found that, overall, women who were physically active were between 25% and 30% less likely to develop breast cancer than those who were inactive.
However, although all types of physical exercise were associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer, some types were associated with a greater reduction in risk than others.
For example, recreational exercise appeared to reduce the risk of breast cancer more than housework or physical activity undertaken as part of a job. Moderate and vigorous activity had equal benefits in reducing breast cancer risk.
The team also found that women who had been physically active throughout their lives had the lowest risk of breast cancer, and regular exercise performed after the menopause had a greater effect than that performed earlier in life.
Furthermore, lean women and mothers appeared to benefit from the protective effects of physical exercise much more than their obese or childless counterparts.
Drs Friedenreich and Cust conclude: "The effect of physical activity on the risk of breast cancer is stronger in specific population subgroups and for certain parameters of activity that need to be further explored in future intervention trials."
The research is published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Br J Sports Med 2008: Advance online publication
http://bjsm.bmj.com/
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© CMG
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