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. 1988 Dec;17(4):743-6.
doi: 10.1093/ije/17.4.743.

Physical activity and colon cancer risk

M Gerhardsson  1 , B Floderus, S E Norell
Affiliations

Physical activity and colon cancer risk

M Gerhardsson et al. Int J Epidemiol. 1988 Dec.

Abstract

The association between low physical activity and colon cancer was examined in a Swedish 14-year follow-up study of 16,477 subjects. The relative risk (RR) of colon cancer in subjects with low physical activity was estimated at 3.6 (1.3-9.8, 95% confidence interval). An association was observed for both men and women, and for low physical activity during occupational hours (RR = 1.6, 0.8-2.9) as well as during recreational hours (RR = 1.6, 1.0-2.7). The relative risk for rectal cancer was not elevated. In the study we controlled for age, gender, domicile and, to some extent, for diet. A possible mechanism is that low physical activity could prolong the transit time of the stool in the colon and thereby the duration of contact between the mucosa and fecal carcinogens.

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Comment in

  • Physical activity and colon cancer risk.
    Gorham ED, Garland CF, Garland FC. Gorham ED, et al. Int J Epidemiol. 1989 Sep;18(3):728-9. doi: 10.1093/ije/18.3.728. Int J Epidemiol. 1989. PMID: 2807684 No abstract available.