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Being strong might predict a longer life. Muscle strength seems to protect against cancer and all combined causes of death, say researchers.
21 07 2008
Being strong might predict a longer life that's the implication of a study which has followed nearly 9000 men for over 18 years.
The researchers compared all sorts of things, including muscular strength in the upper body and legs, to the chances of dying from any cause but particularly cancer or heart disease.
Poor muscle strength was associated with being unhealthy, but when they controlled for things like high cholesterol, fatness, smoking and blood pressure, muscle strength seemed to protect against cancer and all combined causes of death.
Funnily enough, muscle strength wasn't as important for heart disease, where aerobic fitness mattered more although someone who was strong and aerobically fit did better.
No-one's sure why this association between muscle strength and cancer protection might exist, and this study wasn't typical of the general population since the men tended to be better off.
Muscles can change the way insulin works and insulin may affect how cells grow. A greater muscle mass probably also means you burn more calories at rest giving some protection against weight gain which is known to be cancer associated.
But regardless, it's yet another argument for adding resistance training to your exercise program which I'm sure you're following religiously.
Title: British Medical Journal
Author: Ruiz JR et al. Association between muscular strength and mortality in men: prospective cohort study.