The benefits of exercise for patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

As exercise is now an established therapy for the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recent investigations have sought to identify the optimal dose (type, intensity and amount) of exercise for hepatic benefit. Here, the authors discuss the following: the role of aerobic exercise for the modulation of hepatic steatosis; the limited evidence for the role of resistance training in reducing liver fat; the lack of evidence from clinical trials on the role of exercise in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; and the benefits of exercise for patients with NAFLD, beyond steatosis. Based on current evidence, the authors provide recommendations for exercise prescription for patients with NAFLD.

Keywords:

• aerobic training
• exercise
• hepatic steatosis
• non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• resistance training

Financial & competing interests disclosure

J George is supported by the Robert W. Storr Bequest to the Sydney Medical Foundation, University of Sydney; a National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) program grant (grant number: 1053206); and a project grant (grant number: 1049857). NA Johnson has received honoraria for speaking engagements for Merck Sharp & Dohme. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.