Do you want to ensure liver health? Are you afraid of fatty liver filtration? Japanese scientists propose the most effective move that ensures the proper functioning of the liver function
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is now one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting about a quarter of the population. It is characterized by the accumulation of fat in liver cells and can lead to inflammation, cirrhosis of the liver, and liver failure. But as alarming as the numbers of patients may seem, evidence from a recent study gives hope about reversing the disease, stressing the importance of exercise in patients’ daily routine.
The disease is associated with a sedentary lifestyle and overeating episodes, so weight management is crucial to preventing the disease.
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However, this procedure without the supervision of a nutritionist to maintain a normal weight is considered very demanding.
Until now, exercise or physical activity has been recommended as a complementary activity along with diet for weight loss, but its other benefits seem to a positive effect on the health of patients.
“We compared data from obese Japanese suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease who followed a three-month fitness program with those who followed a diet aimed at weight loss”
says lead research professor Junichi Shoda from the University of Tsukuba
“We followed the liver parameters, reduction of fatty tissue, increased muscle strength, inflammation and oxidative stress”
The results of an exercise regimen were compared with those of a standard dietary weight-loss regimen to identify any advantage of regular exercise in the management of NAFLD
The research team found that physical activity made a significant difference, as muscle mass was maintained even with a moderate reduction in body mass and fat.
More specifically, ultrasound elastography data showed that the exercise program further reduced hepatic steatosis by 9.5%, hepatic stiffness by 6.8%, and FibroScan-AST (a measurement of hepatic fibrosis) by 16.4%. Furthermore, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant reactions were induced through the activation of Nrf2 (nuclear agent), an oxidative stress sensor.
The results are particularly significant, but Professor Shoda notes the difficulty of staying on an ongoing fitness program for patients:
“Those who exercise may become discouraged and give up if they do not see a significant change in their weight. Therefore, moderate to vigorous exercise should be integrated into all treatments for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and patients at risk for the disease should continue to exercise regardless of whether they lose weight or not.”