Although lifestyle changes encompassing weight loss and exercise remain the cornerstone of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) management, the effect of different types of exercise on NAFLD is unknown. This study defines the effect of modified high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on liver fat, cardiac function and metabolic control in adults with NAFLD. Twenty-three patients with NAFLD [age 54±10 years, body mass index (BMI) 31±4 kg/m2, intra-hepatic lipid >5%) were assigned to either 12 weeks HIIT or standard care (controls). HIIT involved thrice weekly cycle ergometry for 30–40 min. MRI and spectroscopy were used to assess liver fat, abdominal fat and cardiac structure/function/energetics. Glucose control was assessed by oral glucose tolerance test and body composition by air displacement plethysmography. Relative to control, HIIT decreased liver fat (11±5% to 8±2% compared with 10±4% to 10±4% P=0.019), whole-body fat mass (35±7 kg to 33±8 kg compared with 31±9 kg to 32±9 kg, P=0.013), alanine (52±29 units/l to 42±20 units/l compared with 47±22 units/l to 51±24 units/l, P=0.016) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST; 36±18 units/l to 33±15 units/l compared with 31±8 units/l to 35±8 units/l, P=0.017) and increased early diastolic filling rate (244±84 ml/s to 302±107 ml/s compared with 255±82 ml/s to 251±82 ml/s, P=0.018). There were no between groups differences in glucose control. Modified HIIT reduces liver fat and improves body composition alongside benefits to cardiac function in patients with NAFLD and should be considered as part of the broader treatment regimen by clinical care teams. ISRCTN trial ID: ISRCTN78698481.
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Research Article|
October 13 2015
Modified high-intensity interval training reduces liver fat and improves cardiac function in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized controlled trial
Kate Hallsworth;
Kate Hallsworth
1
*Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, U.K.
Correspondence: Dr Kate Hallsworth (email kate.hallsworth@ncl.ac.uk).
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Christian Thoma;
Christian Thoma
1
*Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, U.K.
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Kieren G. Hollingsworth;
Kieren G. Hollingsworth
*Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, U.K.
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Sophie Cassidy;
Sophie Cassidy
*Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, U.K.
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Quentin M. Anstee;
Quentin M. Anstee
*Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, U.K.
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Christopher P. Day;
Christopher P. Day
*Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, U.K.
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Michael I. Trenell
Michael I. Trenell
*Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, U.K.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
April 23 2015
Revision Received:
July 27 2015
Accepted:
August 10 2015
Accepted Manuscript online:
August 10 2015
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© 2015 Authors; published by Portland Press Limited
2015
Clin Sci (Lond) (2015) 129 (12): 1097–1105.
Article history
Received:
April 23 2015
Revision Received:
July 27 2015
Accepted:
August 10 2015
Accepted Manuscript online:
August 10 2015
Citation
Kate Hallsworth, Christian Thoma, Kieren G. Hollingsworth, Sophie Cassidy, Quentin M. Anstee, Christopher P. Day, Michael I. Trenell; Modified high-intensity interval training reduces liver fat and improves cardiac function in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 December 2015; 129 (12): 1097–1105. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20150308
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