Effects of Resistance Exercise on the Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in the Elder: Pilot Study

This study analyzed the potential of muscle mass increase through resistance exercise as a new treatment for age-related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In order to analyze changes in blood liver function and insulin sensitivity-related variables before and after exercise training for NAFLD in the elderly, subjects with asymptomatic non-alcoholic fatty liver disease were divided into an exercise group (aerobic vs resistance) and a control group. Exercise group performed aerobic and resistance exercise for 8 weeks, respectively. Changes of body composition, physical fitness factors, blood liver function-related variables, and insulin sensitivity-related variables before and after exercise intervention were analyzed. There was no change in muscle mass in the aerobic exercise and control groups, but the resistance exercise group showed a significant (p<.05) increase. Blood ALT and AST concentrations, which are liver function-related variables, decreased significantly (p<.05) in the aerobic and resistance exercise groups after the exercise program compared to before the program, but there was no significant difference in the control group. Blood Vit D and Ca2-ATPase concentrations in the aerobic and resistance exercise groups increased significantly (p<.05) after the exercise program compared to before the program. No direct effect of increased muscle mass on the treatment of NAFLD was confirmed. However, aerobic exercise and resistance exercise were found to be effective methods for the treatment of NAFLD.