London, May 23: Muscular men who pump iron are up to 40 per cent less likely to die from cancer, concludes a new study by an international team of researchers.

The research, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, suggests that when it comes to protecting the body against deadly tumours muscular strength is as important as staying slim and eating healthily.

To reach the conclusion, a team of experts, led by scientists from Sweden''s Karolinska Institute, tracked the lifestyles of 8,677 men aged between 20 and 82 for more than two decades.

Each volunteer had regular medical check ups that included tests of their muscular strength, reports The Telegraph.

Between 1980 and 2003, researchers monitored how many developed cancer and subsequently died from it.

The results showed men who regularly worked out with weights and had the highest muscle strength were between 30 and 40 per cent less likely to lose their life to a deadly tumour.

The researchers said: "In the light of these results, it is equally important to maintain healthy muscular strength levels.

"It''s possible to reduce cancer mortality rates in men by promoting resistance training involving the major muscle groups at least two days a week." (ANI)