Aerobic Exercise Found to Help Reduce Fatty Liver Disease
Non-alcoholic liver steatosis, also known as “fatty liver,” affects 25% of Italians. This silent pathology is often associated with high levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides, insulin resistance, and prediabetes. It especially affects those who are overweight. However, a recent study has found that aerobic exercise could help manage and counteract the effects of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
The study, conducted by a team of Spanish and Chilean researchers, looked at the effects of aerobic exercise on the accumulation of fat in the liver. The study took animal models into consideration, but the authors are convinced that its effects could also be replicable in people. The results revealed that moderate physical activity over time helps metabolize fats, reducing the severity of the disease. Aerobic exercise seems capable of reducing the size of lipid droplets that accumulate in the liver in the case of steatosis.
The underlying mechanism is intuitive: when we train, the body needs more energy. To produce it, adipose tissue releases stored fatty acids, and mitochondria burn them to generate energy. This process, called lipid oxidation, helps reduce the accumulation of lipids in cells. In summary, moderate, aerobic physical activity stimulates mitochondria to burn more fat, thus preventing the onset of obesity and metabolic diseases.
The credit for these effects should be attributed to mitofusin 2 (Mfn-2), a protein found in the outer membrane of the mitochondria and which could play a key role in modulating the interactions between lipid droplets and mitochondria, stimulating fat catabolism.
The Spanish study is not the first to demonstrate a correlation between aerobic physical activity and a reduction of hepatic steatosis. A 2015 meta-analysis of several scientific works had already confirmed this link. However, the precise mechanism through which exercise contributes to the liver’s lipid metabolism was not yet clear.
To reduce liver fat, experts recommend 150 to 300 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, light jogging, biking, or swimming. It is also recommended to combine aerobics with 2-3 weekly sessions of weight training, with two or three sets of 8-12 repetitions at an intensity of 70-85% to improve insulin sensitivity and muscle strength.
These findings suggest that aerobic exercise could be an effective way to manage and reduce the effects of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It is a promising discovery that could have significant implications for the treatment and prevention of this prevalent health condition.