Effectiveness of two physical activity programs on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. a randomized controlled clinical trial

Introduction: To estimate the effectiveness of two physical activity programs on NAFLD.Methods: Participants come from a survey conducted in southern Italy. Subjects with moderate or severe NAFLD were invited to participate. After giving informed consent, they completed a questionnaire, underwent ultrasonography and anthropometric measurements. Then they were randomized an Aerobic or a Combined Exercise program and followed up for six months. The first group followed a program of moderate aerobic activity lasting 30 minutes, 5 days per week. The second group did aerobic training with the addition of muscle training involving the large muscle groups, stimulating them to make more intense efforts, for a duration of 60 minutes, at least, 3 days a week. Compliance with the programs was measured. A mixed linear model was applied to the data.Results: Compliance with Aerobic Exercise was homogeneous and increased over time. Combined Program compliance was equal to 100%. There was no significant difference in the NAFLD mean score by treatment at baseline and after six months. However, there was a significant reduction in the NAFLD mean score for treatments after six months. The NAFLD measured score was reduced by 22% in the Aerobic treatment group when confronted with the other program. In the Combined program, after 6 months, results showed to be less effective than the Aerobic Exercise in reducing the NAFLD score.Conclusions: An aerobic exercise program is a realistic intervention which could be included as a part of primary prevention of several chronic diseases.