Effect of HIIT Exercises with Thyme Supplement on Plasma Lipoproteins and Liver Enzymes of Men with Fatty Liver: A Semi-experimental Study

Fatty liver is a type of fat accumulation in liver cells that causing a malignant process leading to the fibrosis of the liver tissue and cellular destruction if left unchecked. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of HIIT exercises with thyme supplement on the plasma lipoproteins and liver enzymes of male patients with fatty liver.

The present semi-experimental study was carried out on 40 men with fatty liver who were randomly divided into four groups of HIIT exercises and thyme supplement, HIIT exercises and placebo, thyme supplement, and control. The supplement groups received a 2-g capsule daily for 2 weeks. In addition, the placebo group received a 1-g starch capsule in two meals (i.e., lunch and dinner) for 2 weeks. The subjects performed a researcher-made HIIT training protocol in six sessions for 2 weeks. The results were analyzed using covariance analysis and paired t-test. The significance level was considered to be P ≤ 0.05.

The results of statistical analysis showed that the plasma concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein enzymes had a significant decrease after 2 weeks of HIIT exercises with thyme supplement (P≤0.05). The obtained findings also showed that high-density lipoprotein was reported with a significant increase after 2 weeks of HIIT exercises with thyme supplement (P≤0.05).

The results of this study demonstrated that HIIT exercises with thyme supplement affect liver enzymes and plasma lipids.