A new study has shown that 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training improves cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with prostate cancer. In addition, this sport delayed the biochemicalProgression of prostate canceramong men who underwent active surveillance. In addition, the exercise program increased patients' oxygen consumption and decreased prostate-specific antigen PSA.
How high-intensity interval training can be beneficial for cancer patients
Study authors examined the effects of exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness in progressive prostate cancer at low to favorable risk. To do this, the team randomly assigned participants to HIIT three times a week. The usual supply of 26 men each took 12 weeks. Researchers found that adherence to HIIT was 96 percent. The primary endpoint of peak oxygen consumption increased by 0.9 ml/kg/min. This also fell by 0.5 ml/kg/min in the training group and in the normal care group. Through high-intensity interval training, the test subjects recorded a reduced PSA level of −1.1 µg/L. The PSA rate was −1.3 µg/L/year. The researchers also observed reduced tumor growth of −0.13 optical density units compared to the usual care group. However, PSA doubling time and testosterone did not differ significantly between participant groups.
The evidence that HIIT alone, without dietary modification, led to improved cardiorespiratory fitness and biochemical parameters in men with localized prostate cancer with active surveillance and growth inhibition at the cellular level is new and remarkable. The participants were adult men who had a localized verylow risk of prostate cancerwas diagnosed with a favorable intermediate risk. Exercise has been shown to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, physical functioning, body composition, fatigue, and quality of life during and after treatment; however, only one exercise study has been conducted in this clinical setting. The resultsthis studyshow that exercise can be an effective intervention for improving cardiorespiratory fitness and suppressing prostate cancer progression in patients undergoing active surveillance.
