The effects of exercise on insulin, glucose, IGF-axis and CRP in cancer survivors: Meta-analysis and meta-regression of randomised controlled trials.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 31823458 · doi:10.1111/ecc.13186
What was done
A systematic search across PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science (up to December 2017) was performed to identify randomised controlled trials assessing the effects of physical activity on metabolic and inflammatory markers (CRP, glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, and IGF-1) in cancer survivors. Standardised mean differences (SMD) were calculated and meta-regression was conducted.
What was found
Survivors randomised to exercise showed significant improvements over controls in insulin (SMD = -0.59; 95% CI, -1.05 to -0.14), CRP (SMD = -0.52; 95% CI, -0.87 to -0.17), insulin resistance (SMD = -0.20; 95% CI, -0.41 to -0.003), and glucose (SMD = -0.19; 95% CI, -0.35 to -0.02). IGF-1 values were not reported in the abstract. Meta-regression indicated study duration had a borderline association with CRP reduction (p = .056), and higher baseline insulin predicted greater insulin improvement (p = .007).
Why it matters
These findings quantify how exercise improves metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers associated with cancer outcomes in survivor populations.
Limits
The abstract does not state the number of included trials, participant sample size, cancer types, or specific exercise prescriptions. It measures surrogate circulating biomarkers rather than recurrence or survival endpoints.
Cited by
- supports Exercise reduces levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF), which promote cancer cell growth and division.