Effect of six months of aerobic exercise on plasma interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha as breast cancer risk factors in postmenopausal women : a randomized controlled trial

Abstract EN

Background: Increased physical activity is associated with a reduction in the risk of breast cancer; however, the exact mechanism of the reduction is not yet completely known.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of six months of aerobic exercise on the plasma interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- ) levels as breast cancer risk factors in postmenopausal women.

PatientsandMethods: This study was a randomized controlled trial.We randomly assigned 41 postmenopausal, sedentarywomen aged 50 to 74 to either an exercise or a control group.

The intervention involved facility-based aerobic exercise (three days/week, at 70 - 80% of the maximum heart rate, for six months).

Results: Twenty-seven women completed the study.

The plasma IL-6 level decreased by 21.3% in the exercisers and by 6.9% in the controls, and the intervention effect was significant (P = 0.001).

The plasma TNF- level decreased by 17.1% and 10.8% in the exercisers and controls, respectively, although the effect of exercise was not statistically significant (P = 0.28).

Overall, long-term aerobic exercise may result in a decreased IL-6 concentration.

Conclusions: We suggest that regular aerobic exercise can favorably alter the inflammatory profile, which is a known risk factor in breast cancer development, in postmenopausal women.