Obesity and cancer: Study hints at positive impact of physical exercise on gut microbiome

The link between colorectal cancer risk and mortality and energy balance components, including physical activity and obesity, is well established. Having said that, till date, there was no targeted probe into the gut microbiome as an underlying mechanism. In a first-of-its-kind research, scientists have now studied the impact of exercise on the gut microbiome of cancer patients to unearth a positive association. Researchers also found that physical activity was beneficial to obese cancer patients, who tend to have a less healthy gut microbiome.

The gut microbiome is the largest portion of the body’s collection of bacteria and other microbes. The researchers investigated the associations of physical activity, BMI, and combinations of physical activity/BMI with gut microbiome diversity and differential abundances among colorectal cancer patients. The results indicate that physical activity may offset gut microbiome dysbiosis owing to obesity. Gut microbiota alterations may also contribute mechanistically to the energy balance-colorectal cancer link and impact clinical outcomes.

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