Physical Activity Protocols in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Management: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials and Animal Models
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely associated with other metabolic disease and cardiovascular disease. Regular exercise reduces hepatic fat content and could be the first-line treatment in the management of NAFLD. This review aims to summarize the current evidence of the beneficial...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/14/1992 |
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| author | Elisa Barrón-Cabrera Raúl Soria-Rodríguez Fernando Amador-Lara Erika Martínez-López |
| author_facet | Elisa Barrón-Cabrera Raúl Soria-Rodríguez Fernando Amador-Lara Erika Martínez-López |
| author_sort | Elisa Barrón-Cabrera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely associated with other metabolic disease and cardiovascular disease. Regular exercise reduces hepatic fat content and could be the first-line treatment in the management of NAFLD. This review aims to summarize the current evidence of the beneficial effects of exercise training and identify the molecular pathways involved in the response to exercise to define their role in the resolution of NAFLD both in animal and human studies. According to the inclusion criteria, 43 animal studies and 14 RCTs were included in this systematic review. Several exercise modalities were demonstrated to have a positive effect on liver function. Physical activity showed a strong association with improvement in inflammation, and reduction in steatohepatitis and fibrosis in experimental models. Furthermore, both aerobic and resistance exercise in human studies were demonstrated to reduce liver fat, and to improve insulin resistance and blood lipids, regardless of weight loss, although aerobic exercises may be more effective. Resistance exercise is more feasible for patients with NAFLD with poor cardiorespiratory fitness. More effort and awareness should be dedicated to encouraging NAFLD patients to adopt an active lifestyle and benefit from it its effects in order to reduce this growing public health problem. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:01:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-042160b1490947f89cbf16f4c351d794 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:01:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-042160b1490947f89cbf16f4c351d7942023-11-18T19:32:21ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-07-011114199210.3390/healthcare11141992Physical Activity Protocols in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Management: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials and Animal ModelsElisa Barrón-Cabrera0Raúl Soria-Rodríguez1Fernando Amador-Lara2Erika Martínez-López3Faculty of Nutrition and Gastronomy Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacan 80010, MexicoProgram in Physical Activity and Lifestyle, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, MexicoDepartment of Medical Clinics, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, MexicoInstitute of Translational Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics, Department of Molecular and Genomic Biology, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44100, MexicoNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely associated with other metabolic disease and cardiovascular disease. Regular exercise reduces hepatic fat content and could be the first-line treatment in the management of NAFLD. This review aims to summarize the current evidence of the beneficial effects of exercise training and identify the molecular pathways involved in the response to exercise to define their role in the resolution of NAFLD both in animal and human studies. According to the inclusion criteria, 43 animal studies and 14 RCTs were included in this systematic review. Several exercise modalities were demonstrated to have a positive effect on liver function. Physical activity showed a strong association with improvement in inflammation, and reduction in steatohepatitis and fibrosis in experimental models. Furthermore, both aerobic and resistance exercise in human studies were demonstrated to reduce liver fat, and to improve insulin resistance and blood lipids, regardless of weight loss, although aerobic exercises may be more effective. Resistance exercise is more feasible for patients with NAFLD with poor cardiorespiratory fitness. More effort and awareness should be dedicated to encouraging NAFLD patients to adopt an active lifestyle and benefit from it its effects in order to reduce this growing public health problem.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/14/1992physical activityexercise trainingliver diseasesfatty liver |
| spellingShingle | Elisa Barrón-Cabrera Raúl Soria-Rodríguez Fernando Amador-Lara Erika Martínez-López Physical Activity Protocols in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Management: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials and Animal Models Healthcare physical activity exercise training liver diseases fatty liver |
| title | Physical Activity Protocols in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Management: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials and Animal Models |
| title_full | Physical Activity Protocols in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Management: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials and Animal Models |
| title_fullStr | Physical Activity Protocols in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Management: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials and Animal Models |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical Activity Protocols in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Management: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials and Animal Models |
| title_short | Physical Activity Protocols in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Management: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials and Animal Models |
| title_sort | physical activity protocols in non alcoholic fatty liver disease management a systematic review of randomized clinical trials and animal models |
| topic | physical activity exercise training liver diseases fatty liver |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/14/1992 |
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