Abstract
BackgroundWe evaluated the association of regular physical exercise with the presence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver enzymes in relation to obesity and insulin resistance.Methodology/Principal FindingsA cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 72,359 healthy Korean adults without diabetes who participated in a comprehensive health check-up. Subjects who have been exercising regularly (more than 3 times per week, at least for 30 minutes each time and for consecutive 3 month) were categorized into exercise group. All subjects were categorized into deciles based on their body mass index (BMI) and we estimated the odds ratios (ORs) for having NAFLD according to exercise regularity in each decile. The diagnosis of NAFLD was based on ultrasonography findings. Individuals with NAFLD (n = 19,921) were analyzed separately to evaluate ORs for having elevated liver enzymes based on regularity of exercise. The risk for NAFLD was significantly reduced in exercise group with age- and sex-adjusted ORs of 0.53–0.72 for all BMI deciles except at BMI categories of <19.6 and 20.7–21.6 kg/m2. While no difference was seen in BMI between subjects in exercise and non-exercise group across the BMI deciles, the values of body fat percentage and metabolic risk factors differed. Among NAFLD patients, subjects in exercise group had a lower risk for having elevated liver enzymes with multivariable adjusted OR of 0.85 (95% CI 0.74–0.99, for AST) and 0.74 (95% CI 0.67–0.81, for ALT) than did subjects in non-exercise group.Conclusions/SignificanceRegular exercise was associated with a reduced risk for having NAFLD and decreased liver enzymes in patients with NAFLD, and this relationship was also independent of obesity.
Highlights
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses liver conditions ranging from hepatic steatosis through steatohepatitis to cirrhosis [1]
When individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were analyzed separately, subjects in exercise group had a lower risk for having elevated liver enzymes with age- and sex-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of 0.75 and 0.66 than did subjects in non-exercise group
Even after additional adjustment for body fat percentage, triglyceride, LDL, HDL, systolic BP, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and smoking, this reduced OR remained significant (Table 3). In this large cross-sectional study of non-diabetic subjects, regular physical exercise was associated with a reduced risk for having NAFLD and this risk reduction was shown through all body mass index (BMI) categories except at the very low group (BMI,19.6 kg/m2)
Summary
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses liver conditions ranging from hepatic steatosis through steatohepatitis to cirrhosis [1]. Insulin resistance and obesity represent the most important risk factors for the development of NAFLD [2]. Excess liver fat is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) [3,4]. Despite evidence that physical inactivity can activate pathologies including insulin resistance and central adiposity which are closely linked to NAFLD [6], studies confirming this mechanistic link are lacking. The present study is a large-scale cross-sectional study to explore the association of regular physical exercise, in relation to obesity and insulin resistance, with the presence of NAFLD and liver enzymes in subjects with NAFLD. We evaluated the association of regular physical exercise with the presence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver enzymes in relation to obesity and insulin resistance
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
