Regular exercise has been
shown to help control the body's levels of serum lipids and cholesterol. High
serum fat levels have been particularly associated with greater risk of a more
advanced and aggressive type of cancer with a higher risk of relapse after
initial therapy. Men with prostate cancer with lower serum lipids have better
prognostic features including lower PSA, lower grade (aggressiveness of cells)
and lower stage (less advanced). These factors correlate with better outcomes.
A
clue to the mechanism of fat levels at least in prostate comes from the finding
that lower serum fat levels correlated with lower testosterone. Circumstantial
evidence is also emerging from studies giving people statins which also lower
blood fat levels. Five of the largest randomised trials have demonstrated fewer
colon, breast, and melanoma in long term users of statins compared to controls.
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