Daily HealthBeat Tip

Exercising cell control

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Exercise seems to reduce the risk of getting colon cancer. How it happens is a good question. But researcher Anne McTiernan of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle has an idea.

McTiernan looked at rates at which colon cells divide – important, because a jump in cell division can be a warning of cancer. She found fewer actively dividing cells in men who were diligent exercisers:

"If the men did four to five hours a week, they got a significant benefit. They got more benefit if they did six hours a week." (seven seconds)

At the low end, it's about 45 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous activity. But McTiernan says even people who don't exercise can start easy and work up.

Her study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: December 15, 2006

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