The Effect of Eight-Week Endurance Training on Fatty Liver and Lipid Profile Indices, Insulin Resistance and Body Composition in Diabetic Women with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, characterized by the deposition of fat in liver cells, can cause fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cell damage if not controlled. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of 8 weeks endurance training on fatty liver and lipid profile indices, insulin resistance and body composition in diabetic women with NAFLD.

in this study, 30 diabetic women (age 53±7, height 158±4, and weight 75±9) with non-alcoholic fatty liver participated. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups of control (n=15) and exercise (n=15). The training group program was performed by running in each session for 30-45 minutes and 60-70% of the heart rate reserve and three sessions per week for eight weeks. Liver enzymes, lipid profile, blood sugar, insulin, insulin resistance index, Percent body fat and VO2max were evaluated before and after the training protocol. ANOVA test with repeated measures was used to determine the differences. With confidence interval of P<0.05.

Results of analysis of variance with repeated measures in lipid profile variables (TG, TC, HDL and LDL), liver enzymes (ALT and AST), insulin, insulin resistance, maximum oxygen consumption, WHR, weight and Body mass index showed that the interactive effect of time × group was significant in these variables  (P<0.05). The results of Bonferroni post hoc test reported a significant decrease in fat profile variables in the exercise group compared to the control group except for HDL in the exercise group, which did not show a significant change and in the control group (P <0.05). Also, the comparison between groups showed that there was a significant difference between control and exercise groups in fasting blood sugar factors, ALT, AST, TG, HDL, LDL, insulin, insulin resistance, maximum oxygen consumption, WHR, weight and Percent body fat (P<0.05).

These results suggest that moderate intensity aerobic exercise can play an important role in the improvement of these patients by compensating for the destructive effects of type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver. In addition, aerobic exercise can prevent the progression of NAFLD.