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Exercise reduced hepatic fat in type 2 diabetes

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AACVPR 23rd Annual Meeting

Moderate aerobic exercise combined with light weight lifting may reduce hepatic fat, body fat and body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to data presented at the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation 23rd Annual Meeting.

Kerry J. Stewart, EdD, professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, presented data from a randomized, controlled trial assessing the effects of exercise on liver fat, body weight and other factors in patients with diabetes.

The study included 77 men and women with diabetes. Participants were divided into two groups. For six months, one group was assigned to 45 minutes of aerobic exercise three times per week with 20 minutes of stacked weight lifting three times per week. The researchers instructed the other group to avoid formal exercise classes.

MRI measured hepatic fat at baseline and after study completion, which revealed lower levels in the active group (5.6%) and static levels in the control group (8.5%; P<.03).

Peak oxygen uptake levels were 25.1 ml/kg/minute in the exercise group vs. 22.2 ml/kg/minute in the control group (P<.03). Participants in the exercise group had increased muscle strength (1,056.1 lbs.) vs. controls (957.3 lbs.; P<.001).

Compared with controls, those in the exercise group had lower measurements of body fat (33.2% vs. 35.5%; P<.001) and body weight (92.2 kg vs. 98.5 kg; P<.01). In addition, the waist circumference was 99.1 inches for the exercise group vs. 103.4 inches for controls (P<.001).

According to Stewart, “these data suggest another important mechanism by which exercise training improves metabolic, cardiovascular and liver health in persons with type 2 diabetes.” – by Stacey L. Adams

This study seems to document yet another beneficial impact on health of exercise training — a reduction in hepatic fat, which has not been documented previously.

– Rita Redberg, MD, MSc, FACC, FAHA

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow
Professor of Medicine, UCSF School of Medicine

For more information:

• Stewart KJ, Bonekamp S, Barone BB, et al. Exercise training reduces hepatic fat in type 2 diabetes: A randomized, controlled trial. Presented at: American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation 23rd Annual Meeting; Sept. 18-21, 2008; Indianapolis.