Simple Resistance Exercise helps Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

To date, only limited evidence has supported the notion that resistance exercise positively impacts non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We evaluated the effects of resistance exercise on the metabolic parameters of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in 53 patients who were assigned to either a group that performed push-ups and squats 3 times weekly for 12 weeks (exercise group; n=31) or a group that did not (control; n=22). Patients in the control group proceeded with regular physical activities under a restricted diet throughout the study. The effects of the exercise were compared between the 2 groups after 12 weeks. Fat-free mass and muscle mass significantly increased, whereas hepatic steatosis grade, mean insulin and ferritin levels, and the homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance index were significantly decreased in the exercise group. Compliance with the resistance exercise program did not significantly correlate with patient background characteristics such as age, sex, BMI and metabolic complications. These findings show that resistance exercise comprising squats and push-ups helps to improve the characteristics of metabolic syndrome in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Exercise Training as Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

“…Seven randomized controlled trials and two non-randomized controlled trials measured the effects of resistance training in NAFLD [10,11,23,[39][40][41][42][43][44]. Six studies used machine-based resistance training; one resistance machines and body weight; one utilized solely the participant's body weight; and, one weighted-belts [10,11,23,[39][40][41][42][43][44].…”

“…Six studies used machine-based resistance training; one resistance machines and body weight; one utilized solely the participant's body weight; and, one weighted-belts [10,11,23,[39][40][41][42][43][44]. Of the six studies, two utilized hypertrophy protocols; one study did not specify the % 1-Repetition Maximum (RM) used; two did not mention the amount of repetitions prescribed; and, one did not specify the type of resistance training prescribed [10,11,23,39,42].…”

“…Of the six studies, two utilized hypertrophy protocols; one study did not specify the % 1-Repetition Maximum (RM) used; two did not mention the amount of repetitions prescribed; and, one did not specify the type of resistance training prescribed [10,11,23,39,42]. Most studies followed the general recommendation to increase resistance weight by 2-10% after one or two repetitions completed over the prescribed amount; however, three studies maintained resistance throughout the intervention [14,23,42,44]. Intervention durations have ranged from eight weeks to six months, with the most common duration as 12 weeks [10,11,[39][40][41][42][43][44].…”

“…Most studies followed the general recommendation to increase resistance weight by 2-10% after one or two repetitions completed over the prescribed amount; however, three studies maintained resistance throughout the intervention [14,23,42,44]. Intervention durations have ranged from eight weeks to six months, with the most common duration as 12 weeks [10,11,[39][40][41][42][43][44]. Resistance training protocols were conducted three times per week on nonconsecutive days to allow adequate time for muscle recovery and to minimize overtraining.…”

“…Resistance training protocols were conducted three times per week on nonconsecutive days to allow adequate time for muscle recovery and to minimize overtraining. As with aerobic training, sample sizes have been small, with only two studies containing at least one group with 30 or more participants [39,44].…”