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. 2021 Mar 26;31(1):9630.
doi: 10.4081/ejtm.2021.9630.

Impact of exercise training on the sarcopenia criteria in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Andrea Gonzalez  1 , Mayalen Valero-Breton  2 , Camila Huerta-Salgado  3 , Oscar Achiardi  4 , Felipe Simon  5 , Claudio Cabello-Verrugio  6
Affiliations

Impact of exercise training on the sarcopenia criteria in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Andrea Gonzalez et al. Eur J Transl Myol. .

Abstract

Sarcopenia is a highly prevalent complication of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analyses to elucidate the exercise training (ET)'s efficacy on NAFLD adult patients' sarcopenia criteria. We identified relevant randomized controlled trials (RCT) in electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus. We selected seven RCT from 66 screened studies. The ET programs included endurance or combined (endurance and resistance) training. No study performed resistance training alone. The physical function improved with endurance or combined training (mean differences [MD] 8.26 mL/Kg*min [95% CI 5.27 to 11.24 mL/Kg*min], p < 0.0001); Muscle mass showed no evidence of the beneficial effects of endurance or combined training (MD 1.01 Kg [95% CI -1.78 to 3.80 Kg], p = 0.48). None of the selected studies evaluated muscle strength. Endurance and combined training increase physical function criteria but do not improve muscle mass criteria on sarcopenia in NAFLD patients. These results must be interpreted with caution for the small number of patients included in the RCTs analyzed, the different characteristics of the ET carried out, the non-use of resistance training, which prevents assess its effect on sarcopenia despite the evidence that recommends it and does not assessment muscle strength criteria in RCT include. Future research should include muscle strength assessments and resistance training to evaluate the effects in this condition. Exercise training is beneficial for sarcopenia in NAFLD but is necessary more experimental evidence to define the best type of training that positively affects the three criteria of sarcopenia. PROSPERO reference number CRD42020191471.

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Conflict of interest statement

I confirmthat I have read the Journal’s position on ethical publication issues and affirms that this report is consistent with those guidelines.

Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
Flow chart to the PRISMA statement. Flow chart of search results and study selection according to the PRISMA statement.
Fig 2.
Fig 2.
Forest Plot for physical performance. A meta-analysis of pooled effect size and confidence intervals (CIs) (95%) of the interventions with exercise versus control group on physical performance evaluated by the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) (mL/Kg * min).
Fig 3.
Fig 3.
Forest Plot for Lean body mass. A meta-analysis of pooled effect size (ES) and confidence intervals (CIs) (95%) of the intervention with exercise versus control group on lean mass evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and air displacement plethysmograph (Kg).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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