Abstract:
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate effect of moderate Aerobic Exercises on Liver Function in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in University Students
Methods: sixty patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with age ranged from 18-28 years old from both sexes. Patients were divided into two equal groups; group A received their standard medications associated with low calorie diet and moderate aerobic exercises 3 times per week for 8weeks while group B received their standard medications and low calorie diet for 8 weeks. Lab investigations of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and triglycerides (TG) were applied to evaluate patients. Fatigue severity scale (FSS) and body mass index BMI were calculated for patients at two intervals (pre-treatment and post-treatment).
Results: there were significant improvement of all variables post-treatment compared to pre-treatment in group (A) with improvement percentage in BMI (8.6%), ALT (15.97%), AST (16.3%), TG (17.99%) and FSS (35.38%). In (group B): there were significant improvement of all variables post-treatment compared to pre-treatment in BMI (5.9%), ALT (11.4%), AST (7.68%), TG (11.15%) and FSS (5.66%). Moreover, there were no significant difference in BMI, ALT, AST and TG between both groups. However, there was significant difference in FSS in favor of group A.
Conclusion: moderate aerobic exercises are not effective strategies in management of liver function of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in university students when low calorie diet is a part of standard treatment of low calorie diet. Furthermore, aerobic exercise is effective method for improvement fatigue level.