The influence of high-intensity compared with moderate-intensity exercise training on cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition in colorectal cancer survivors: a randomised controlled trial.
Following colorectal cancer diagnosis and anti-cancer therapy, declines in cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition lead to significant increases in morbidity and mortality. There is increasing interest within the field of exercise oncology surrounding potential strategies to remediate these adverse outcomes. This study compared 4 weeks of moderate-intensity exercise (MIE) and high-intensity exercise (HIE) training on peak oxygen consumption (V̇O2peak) and body composition in colorectal cancer survivors.



Forty seven post-treatment colorectal cancer survivors (HIE = 27 months post-treatment; MIE = 38 months post-treatment) were randomised to either HIE [85-95 % peak heart rate (HRpeak)] or MIE (70 % HRpeak) in equivalence with current physical activity guidelines and completed 12 training sessions over 4 weeks.



HIE was superior to MIE in improving absolute (p = 0.016) and relative (p = 0.021) V̇O2peak. Absolute (+0.28 L.min(-1), p < 0.001) and relative (+3.5 ml.kg(-1).min(-1), p < 0.001) V̇O2 peak were increased in the HIE group but not the MIE group following training. HIE led to significant increases in lean mass (+0.72 kg, p = 0.002) and decreases in fat mass (-0.74 kg, p < 0.001) and fat percentage (-1.0 %, p < 0.001), whereas no changes were observed for the MIE group. There were no severe adverse events.



In response to short-term training, HIE is a safe, feasible and efficacious intervention that offers clinically meaningful improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition for colorectal cancer survivors.



HIE appears to offer superior improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition in comparison to current physical activity recommendations for colorectal cancer survivors and therefore may be an effective clinical utility following treatment.
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. j.devin@uq.edu.au.
James L
JL
Devin
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Andrew T
AT
Sax
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Gareth I
GI
Hughes
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
David G
DG
Jenkins
Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.|Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Joanne F
JF
Aitken
Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.|Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.|Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|Health and Wellness Institute, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia.|Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Suzanne K
SK
Chambers
Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.|Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.|School of Social Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Jeffrey C
JC
Dunn
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.|Åstrand Laboratory of Work Physiology, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden.
Kate A
KA
Bolam
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Tina L
TL
Skinner
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D017741:Survivors
Body composition [MESH]; Cardiorespiratory fitness; Colorectal cancer [MESH]; Exercise [MESH]; Exercise oncology; High-intensity exercise