Regular aerobic exercise reduces hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in MAFLD: Study

Patients with biopsy-confirmed MAFLD participated in a 12-week aerobic exercise intervention were included in the study. Liver histology, cardiorespiratory fitness (estimated V̇ O2max), physical activity, anthropometry and biochemical markers were assessed at baseline, intervention completion, and 12 and 52 weeks after intervention completion.

On analysis, the following facts emerged.

• Twenty-four patients completed the exercise intervention (exercise group n = 16, control group n = 8).
• In the exercise group, 12 weeks of aerobic exercise reduced fibrosis and hepatocyte ballooning by one stage in 58% (P = 0.034) and 67% (P = 0.020) of patients, with no changes in steatosis (P = 1.000), lobular inflammation (P = 0.739) or NAFLD activity score (P = 0.172).
• Estimated V̇ O2max increased by 17% compared to the control group (P = 0.027) but this level of improvement was not maintained at 12 or 52 weeks after the intervention.
• Patients with fibrosis and ballooning improvement increased estimated V̇ O2max by 25% (P = 0.020) and 26% (P = 0.010), respectively.
• Anthropometric reductions including body mass (P = 0.038), waist circumference (P = 0.015) and fat mass (P = 0.007) were also observed, but no patient achieved 7%-10% weight loss.

"This pilot study paves the way for larger randomised controlled trials to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on histological features of MAFLD, with a particular focus on determining strategies to transition exercise into the community setting in order to promote lifelong adherence to exercise therapy."wrote the team.

Primary source: Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics

For full article follow the link: doi:10.1111/apt.15989