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Aerobic exercise improves some parameters in postmenopausal women with NAFLD

Undergoing a 6-month aerobics program improved waist circumference, cardiopulmonary fitness and other variables in postmenopausal women with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, according to new study data published in Menopause.  

“Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which is more common in postmenopausal women due to decreases in estrogen levels, is the build-up of extra fat in liver cells. A liver with more than 5-10% fat is considered a fatty liver. … Prevention is key,” JoAnn V. Pinkerton, MD, NCMP, executive director of the North American Menopause Society, told Healio.com/Hepatology. “This study shows the benefit of counseling women at risk of diagnosis with fatty liver disease about the benefits of increased physical activity, including less fat around the middle, improvement in good cholesterol and improved ability to exercise.”

JoAnn V. Pinkerton

In the trial, Rosamar E.F. Rezende, MD, PhD, of the department of gastroenterology, University of São Paulo, Brazil, and colleagues randomly assigned 40 women with biopsy-proven NAFLD to a nonexercising control group (n = 21) or exercising group (n = 19) for 24 weeks.

After 24 weeks, results of an intragroup comparative analysis showed a decrease in BMI (P = .06) and waist circumference (P = .05), an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (P < .05) and improved cardiopulmonary functional capacity in the exercise group. Although, liver enzymes and cytokine serum did not change at a significant rate.

“In the 40 postmenopausal women who underwent exercise training over 6 months compared to a control group, the exercise training was associated with decreased waist circumference, improved good cholesterol and improved their lungs and heart and ability to exercise,” Pinkerton said.

In an intergroup comparative analysis, physical activity did not impact anthropometric profile, body composition, glycemic profile or serum levels of cytokines; however, there was an increase in serum levels of HDL-C (P = .036).

The researchers also observed a small decrease in the rate of evolution of steatosis in the exercise group, but no significant decrease in hepatic steatosis overall.

“The degree of steatosis generally increased in the control group over the length of the study,” the researchers wrote.

The intra- and intergroup comparative analysis of cardiopulmonary exercise testing at baseline showed improvement after 6 months in the exercise group, with an increased time to exhaustion and maximal oxygen uptake, time at ventilator anaerobic threshold and the time at respiratory compensation point.

The researchers concluded: “This may bring benefits in improving the liver disease condition and decreased cardiovascular risk factors in this population. Further studies are required to confirm these data; longer studies with increased frequency of the aerobic physical activity are to be encouraged.” – by Melinda Stevens

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.