177 EFFECTS OF WEIGHT LOSS ON LIVER FUNCTION IN OBESE HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Objective: Insulin resistance (IR) and obesity are predisposing factors for fatty liver disease. This study evaluated effects of weight loss (WL) on liver function. Methods: 90 overweight/obese, hypertensives were randomized into the 3 WL regimens over 24 weeks (calorie restriction alone (D), exercise alone (EX), or a combination with D+EX). BMI, BP, total cholesterol (Tch), triglyceride (TG), liver function (ALT, AST, GGT), fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR were measured every 4 weeks over 24 weeks with WL. Results: At entry period, all parameters were similar between the 3 groups. At 24 weeks, D+EX group had significantly higher prevalence of normalizations of BMI, BP, lipids and GGT (all P < 0.05 vs. D or EX alone). In the D alone, TG decreased significantly at 2 weeks followed by reductions in Tch, BMI, HOMA-IR, BP, GGT at 8 weeks, and ALT and AST at 12 weeks. In the EX alone, significant reductions HOMA-IR and GGT were observed at 4 weeks, BMI at 8 weeks, BP, TG and Tch at 12 weeks, and significant decreases in ALT and AST at 16 weeks. Reductions in GGT, ALT and AST were greater in the groups including D than the EX alone. In the D+EX group, all parameters improved earlier and stronger than the D alone or EX alone groups. In multiple regression analyses, HOMA-IR was a significant determinant for GGT, TG and Tch. Conclusions: WL is an effective treatment for fatty liver disease associated with obesity. Improvement of IR may play an important role of improvement of liver function during WL.