Описание: | Colon cancer is a serious public health problem, costing lives, mounting economic losses, and a growing financial hardship. The incidence of colon cancer is increasing while the population's fitness is declining. Obesity, which is prevalent among adults and children, forecasts growing health problems, including colon cancer. Physical activity is beneficial to human health. It favourably impacts the incidence of many diseases, including colon cancer. The interplay of physical activity and colon cancer takes place on multiple levels, resulting in lower cancer risk. The scientific literature has shown a preponderance of evidence that physical activity is beneficial because it significantly lowers colon cancer incidence. What is not uniformly agreed upon is how this takes place because there are many plausible pathways of influence. The purpose of this study was to study the relationship between colon cancer and physical activity. Pertinent archival literature has been examined with the use of content analysis methodology. In addition to obtaining relational information among the search results, the researcher identified a common denominator to both colon cancer and physical activity. Colon cancer etiologic categories were identified from the literature: age/genetics; diet/obesity; vitamin D; calcium; immunity/inflammation; and bioactive substances incorporating insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), interleukins, and prostaglandins. Physical activity exerts a positive health benefit within each of the colon cancer etiologic categories, thus lessening the cancer risk. Melatonin was identified as the common denominator, the missing link, of colon cancer and physical activity which has a reciprocal relationship to each. Melatonin plays a role within each of the etiologic categories, as cancer risk factors diminish its level while physical activity enhances its presence. Colon cancer incidence can be substantially reduced with physical activity. Increasing physical activity is a priority in colon cancer control on an individual and a societal level. The fact that melatonin, an important cancer-reducing substance and a common denominator to colon cancer and physical activity, can be enhanced by physical activity allows a cost-effective cancer preventive steps for any population. |