Effect of Circuit Resistance Training and L-Carnitine Supplementation on Body Composition and Liver Function in Men with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Exercises and L-carnitine supplementation are effective for liver function.

The purpose of this study was to compare effect of circuit resistance training and l-carnitine supplementation on body Composition and Liver Function in men with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

In this semi-experimental study, 40 men with NAFLD were selected through purposive sampling and were randomly assigned to one of four groups includes: (1) resistance training, (2) supplement, (3) combined (exercise- supplement) and (4) control. Circuit resistance training was performed for 12 weeks, three sessions per week, with a training intensity of 40% - 80% maximum one-repetition. In the combined and supplementation group, 10 mg L-carnitine supplement per kg body weight was consumed daily with three main meals. To analyze the data, dependent t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used at P0.05.

After exercise, there was a significant decrease in body mass index and body fat percentage in the resistance training group and combined (exercise-supplement) group when compared to the control and supplementation groups. There was also a significant decrease in the level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the intervention groups including exercise, supplement, and combined (exercise-supplement) groups compared to the control group. The percentage of changes in AST and ALT was significantly higher in the combined group than in the training and supplement groups.

According to the findings of this study, circuit resistance and complementary L-carnitine training are effective for improving liver function. This improvement was more evident in the combination of training and L-carnitine supplementation, and these shifts are independent of changes in body composition.