Physical Activity and Low Glycemic Index Mediterranean Diet: Main and Modification Effects on NAFLD Score. Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, and lifestyle modification is the current standard treatment. The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of two different physical activity (PA) programs, a Low Glycemic Index Mediterranean Diet (LGIMD), and their combined effect on the NAFLD score as measured by FibroScan®. Methods: Moderate or severe NAFLD subjects (n = 144) were randomly assigned to six intervention arms during three months. Interventions arms were a control diet, LGIMD, aerobic activity program (PA1), combined activity program (PA2), and LGIMD plus PA1 or LGIMD plus PA2. The data were compared at baseline, at 45 days, and at 90 days. Analysis of variance was performed under the intention-to-treat principle. Results: There was a statistically significant reduction in the NAFLD score after 45 days of treatment in every working arm except for Arm 1 (control diet). After 90 days, the best results were shown by the intervention arms in which LGIMD was associated with PA: LGIMD plus PA1 (−61.56 95% CI −89.61, −33.50) and LGIMD plus PA2 (−38.15 95% CI −64.53, −11.77). Conclusion: All treatments were effective to reduce NAFLD scores, but LGIMD plus PA1 was the most efficient.

Influence of Psychological Biomarkers on Therapeutic Adherence by Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Moderated Mediation Model

“…The impact of doing physical activity and following a Mediterranean diet on NAFLD has been widely studied in recent years [48][49][50][51]. At the same time, the relevance of psychological biomarkers has also been recently proven in NAFLD [24,52].…”

Reduced Rank Regression-Derived Dietary Patterns Related to the Fatty Liver Index and Associations with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus among Ghanaian Populations under Transition: The RODAM Study

“…Reassuringly, in a large Chinese population, an RRR-derived DP related to inflammatory markers is also characterized by high intakes of sugar-containing foods and positively associated with NAFLD [30]. In fact, low glycemic index diets are currently promoted for the amelioration of NAFLD [31].…”

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Focus on New Biomarkers and Lifestyle Interventions

“…Correct dietary habits are important for the regulation of cell membrane in the liver, considered an organ leader in maintaining lipid balance. The combination of diet and physical activity has been considered effective in the prevention of NAFLD [139], so that, clinical studies have demonstrated that both the aerobic and a resistance exercise program physical activity, alone or combined, are capable of reducing NAFLD scores [140,141].…”