The Effect of Aerobic and Resistant Exercise Training in Patients With Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis

The Effect of Aerobic and Resistant Exercise Training on Hepatic Functions, Inflammatory Markers and Functional Capacity in Patients With Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis

The term non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is used to describe a range of chronic liver diseases that range from steatosis to steatohepatitis, advanced fibrosis, cirrhosis, or excessive alcohol consumption or other causes of steatosis. In this spectrum, Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), which defines liver damage accompanied by steatosis and inflammation (hepatitis), is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease worldwide, especially in developed and developing countries, and is present in 15-35% of the general population. Individuals diagnosed with NASH primarily experience deterioration in liver functions, but patients are also affected in terms of vascular structures, immunopathological responses, functional and psychosocial conditions. It is seen that in addition to intrahepatic lipid content, inflammatory markers, liver enzymes, and liver functions, cardiopulmonary endurance, physical activity level, and muscle strength are also affected in these patients, so it is evaluated for the diagnosis and planning of the treatment of the disease. There is no drug with proven efficacy in the treatment of the disease. Since a significant proportion of NASH patients have obesity, Type II Diabetes Mellitus or dyslipidemia, the focus of treatment is to control risk factors or protect the liver from harmful factors such as TNFα. Therefore, the mainstay of treatment, for now, seems to be weight control with a lifestyle change, including regular exercise training and diet control. Exercise intervention is considered an essential component of NAFLD treatment, however; there are a limited number of published articles showing the effects of exercise training in the management of NASH. In addition, the physiological effect of exercise has still not been clarified because NASH is accompanied by metabolic problems such as obesity and T2DM. This study, it is aimed to bring innovation to the literature in understanding the physiological effects of exercise for this disease group by examining the effects of resistance exercise training in addition to aerobic exercise on intrahepatic lipid content, liver functions, inflammatory markers, muscle strength, functionality, and biopsychosocial status in individuals with NASH diagnosis who do not have an additional metabolic problem.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Having been diagnosed with NASH according to the diagnostic criteria determined by the American Gastroenterology Society / Asia-Pacific Working Group,
• No history of hepatic decompensation such as hepatic encephalopathy or abdominal ascites,
• Not being obese according to the criteria of the World Health Organization (Body Mass Index (BMI) <30),
• HbA1c value <6.5%,
• No changes in blood pressure, hyperlipidemia drugs in the last 3 months,
• Absence of any mental disorder or exercise compliance problem that would prevent them from participating in the study.
• It was determined as being voluntary to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• A history of liver disease other than NASH, such as acute or chronic viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis,
• Alcohol consumption >30 g/day in men and >20 g/day in women,
• Having regular exercise habits,
• Presence of conditions where exercise is contraindicated, such as unstable ischemia, decompensated heart failure, arrhythmia that increases with exercise and cannot be controlled, severe aortic stenosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,
• Having orthopedic problems that limit lower extremity movements such as previous cerebrovascular disease, neurological diseases that cause cognitive and motor loss such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and endoprosthesis surgery in the last three months, permanent joint contracture,
• Regular use of food supplements,
• It was determined that he did not volunteer to participate in the study.