A new study published in Frontiers in Immunology has shown that just 30 minutes of exercise increases the proportion of tumor-killing white blood cells circulating in the bloodstream of breast cancer patients.
In the study, 19 women who had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer were assigned to perform 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on a stationary bicycle. Blood samples from the participants were taken at various timepoints, including before the exercise, 15 minutes into the exercise, 30 minutes into the exercise, and 30 and 60 minutes after finishing the exercise. The blood samples were used to measure levels of circulating immune cells in the bloodstream, and the goal of the study was to see how acute exercise changes circulating immune cells in cancer patients.
The results showed that exercise increased the proportion of many types of circulating white blood cells. In particular, the proportions of cancer-killing immune cells, including natural killer cells and cytotoxic T cells, increased significantly. Additionally, proportions of cancer-promoting cells tended to either decrease or stay the same during exercise. One hour after the exercise was completed, almost all white blood cell levels decreased back to the normal range.
According to the authors, current evidence indicates that exercise is beneficial for cancer patients, and these results support that conclusion. Exercise is a well-known component of a healthy lifestyle, with many studies suggesting that regular exercise improves heart health and helps prevent or manage many diseases, including diabetes, metabolic syndrome, stroke, depression, hypertension, and many types of cancer. Some of these effects are likely partially due to the changes in white blood cell proportions that occur during exercise. For maximum health benefits, experts suggest aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise per week.
Sources: Frontiers in Immunology, Science Daily
