Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by abnormal fat metabolism in the liver due to non-alcoholic causes. Adropin is a peptide hormone with essential roles in maintaining metabolic homeostasis. Methods: 42 male rats were divided into 2 groups, each groups was sub-divided into 3 subgroups, group Ia: control 4weeks, group Ib: high fat diet (HFD) 4 weeks, group Ic: HFD 4 weeks +exercise, group IIa: control 12 weeks, group IIb: HFD 12 weeks and group IIc: HFD12 weeks + exercise. Serum Adropin, glucose, HOMA-IR, insulin, lipid profile, ALT, AST, TNFα, IL6, hepatic ROS, MDA and SOD were measured. Histopathological examination, immunohistochemical study and Mallory's trichrome staining of the liver were made. Results: significant increase in insulin resistance, lipid profile parameters, ALT, AST, TNFα, IL6, hepatic ROS, MDA and a decrease in SOD were found in HFD groups. Histopathological examination revealed steatosis in group Ib and steatohepatitis in group IIb. These changes were associated with decrease in serum adropin level. Exercise in group Ic and IIc improved these changes with significant increase in adropin level. Conclusion: HFD induced functional and structural deterioration in the liver leading to NAFLD with significant decrease in serum adropin level. Exercise induced significant increase in serum adropin which may have a role in remission of hepatic inflammation, steatosis and steatohepatitis.