Cycling can reduce prostate cancer risk by 35%, new research shows

A new study has found that men can significantly lower their chances of developing prostate cancer by doing more cycling, jogging and swimming.

Men who increased their fitness by 3% in a year were found to be 35% less likely to develop prostate cancer than men who had let their fitness decrease.

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The results have prompted the researchers to encourage men to increase their cardiorespiratory fitness. The researchers said that the results "highlight the important role of supporting the general public to increase their CRF (cardiorespiratory fitness) or aim to reach moderate fitness levels".

The study's co-author, Dr Kate Bolam, said that given the findings, men should "think about activities that you think are enjoyable that raise your heart rate that you could add to your weekly routine".

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The study, published on 30 January in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, was performed by the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences and used data from 57,652 men.

For each, the researchers analysed the results of at least two cardiorespiratory fitness tests, their physical activity levels, height, body mass index (BMI), lifestyle and perceived health. Annual cardiorespiratory fitness measurements were expressed by the amount of oxygen the body uses while exercising as hard as possible.

During an average follow-up period of seven years, 592 of the men had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 46 had died from the disease.

The researchers observed that those whose fitness had increased 3% annually were 35% less likely to develop the disease, although they were not less likely to die of it if they did develop it.

This is the first conclusive research linking exercise to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. In fact, previous reports had found a slightly increased risk of prostate cancer in men with a higher cardiovascular fitness.

As we covered in our guide to men's sexual health and cycling, scientists now believe this is because cyclists are more likely to get screened for cancer, meaning the diagnosis rate is artificially higher.

On release of the new study, Simon Grieveson, assistant director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “This is an interesting piece of research that adds to previous studies showing possible links between exercise and a lower likelihood of getting prostate cancer.

“Regularly keeping fit and eating a balanced diet are good for every man’s general health and wellbeing – however, we don’t know definitively whether physical activity can lower a man’s risk of getting, or dying from, prostate cancer.

Matt Lambert, health information and promotion manager at World Cancer Research Fund, said: “It is widely known that having a higher level of cardiorespiratory fitness is important for our health and longevity, but it can also be protective against certain diseases.

"This insightful study adds to the evidence around how risk factors such as fitness may play a role in reducing men’s risk of prostate cancer.”

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