Physical exercise in liver diseases

Abstract

Liver diseases contribute to approximately 2 million deaths each year and account for 4% of all deaths globally. Despite various treatment options, the management of liver diseases remains challenging. Physical exercise is a promising non-pharmacological approach to maintain and restore homeostasis and effectively prevent and mitigate liver diseases. In this review, we delve into the mechanisms of physical exercise in preventing and treating liver diseases, highlighting its effects on improving insulin sensitivity, regulating lipid homeostasis, and modulating immune function. Additionally, we evaluate the impact of physical exercise on various liver diseases, including liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, cardiogenic liver disease, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), portal hypertension (PH), cirrhosis, and liver cancer. In conclusion, the review underscores the effectiveness of physical exercise as a beneficial intervention in combating liver diseases.