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Exercise, Telomeres, and Cancer: "The Exercise-Telomere Hypothesis"
Nikitas N Nomikos1, Pantelis T Nikolaidis2, Caio V Sousa3
1Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Frontiers in Physiology
|January 9, 2019
Summary
Exercise may protect against shorter telomere length (TL) and cancer risk. Regular physical activity may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, potentially slowing telomere attrition and lowering cancer incidence.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Oncology
- Exercise Science
Background:
- Telomeres protect chromosome ends and their length (TL) correlates with aging, disease, and cancer.
- Cancer significantly impacts quality of life and mortality worldwide.
- Lifestyle factors, including exercise, may influence TL and cancer risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential role of exercise in the interplay between telomere length (TL), telomerase activity, and cancer.
- To explore exercise as a modulator of TL attrition and cancer risk.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing current evidence on exercise, TL, and cancer.
- Analysis of proposed mechanisms linking exercise to TL maintenance and cancer prevention.
Main Results:
- Exercise is associated with reduced telomere attrition.
- Exercise may decrease cancer risk, potentially mediated by reduced oxidative stress and inflammation.
- Shorter TL is linked to cancer, but the causal relationship requires further elucidation.
Conclusions:
- Exercise may mitigate TL shortening and reduce cancer risk through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant pathways.
- Sedentary behavior during cancer treatment might accelerate TL attrition.
- Individuals with shorter TL may have a higher predisposition to cancer due to lifestyle factors.