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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2023 Nov;31(11):2740-2749.
doi: 10.1002/oby.23887. Epub 2023 Sep 20.

Effects of short-term supervised exercise training on liver fat in adolescents with obesity: a randomized controlled trial

Emir Tas  1   2   3 , Reid D Landes  3   4 , Eva C Diaz  3   5   6 , Shasha Bai  3   7 , Xiawei Ou  3   5   6   8 , Robert Buchmann  8 , Xiaoxu Na  6   8 , Radhika Muzumdar  1   2 , Elisabet Børsheim  3   5   6 , Jonathan A Dranoff  3   9   10
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of short-term supervised exercise training on liver fat in adolescents with obesity: a randomized controlled trial

Emir Tas et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2023 Nov.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of a 4-week, supervised, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on intrahepatic triglyceride content (IHTG, percentage), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and cardiometabolic markers in adolescents with obesity.

Methods: A total of 40 adolescents (age 13-18 y, BMI 36.7 ± 5.8 kg/m2 ) at risk for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) based on obesity and elevated Fibroscan measured controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) scores were randomized to HIIT three times a week for 4 weeks (n = 34) or observation (control; n = 6). Liver magnetic resonance imaging proton-density fat-fraction (MRI-PDFF), CAP, oral glucose tolerance test, serum alanine aminotransferase, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and CRF tests were performed before and after intervention. Within- and between-group differences were compared.

Results: A total of 13 (38%) and 4 (66%) children had MASLD by MRI-PDFF (IHTG ≥ 5%) in the HIIT and control groups, respectively. The implemented HIIT protocol had no impact on CRF or IHTG (baseline 5.26%, Δ = -0.31 percentage points, 95% CI: -0.77 to 0.15; p = 0.179), but it decreased the 2-h glucose concentration (baseline 116 mg/dL, Δ = -11 mg/dL; 95% CI: -17.6 to -5.5; p < 0.001). When limiting the analysis to participants with MASLD (n = 17), HIIT decreased IHTG (baseline 8.81%, Δ = -1.05 percentage points, 95% CI: -2.08 to -0.01; p = 0.048). Between-group comparisons were not different.

Conclusions: The implemented exercise protocol did not reduce IHTG, but it led to modest improvement in markers of cardiometabolic health.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Participant flowchart (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials [CONSORT] diagram)
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Intrahepatic triglyceride content (IHTG; percentage) levels and mean of differences before and after the intervention period in high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and control groups by baseline metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) status (positive or negative)
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Changes in liver fat (expressed in percentage points, pp) plotted (A) by changes in cardiorespiratory fitness and (B) by changes in homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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