Table 2.
Effects of exercise training vs. control on ectopic and subcutaneous fat.
| Reference | Mode | Measure | Pre. Mean (±SD) | Post. Mean (±SD) | Mean Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdelbassett et al. (2019) [30] | Con: n = 16 HIIT: n = 16 |
VFA: MRI Liver fat: MRI |
VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 179.8 ± 14.4 | Con: 177.2 ± 12.8 | NR | |||
| HIIT: 184.5 ± 12.3 | HIIT: 166.4 ± 11.6 | NR | |||
| Liver fat: | Liver fat: | ||||
| Con: 11.2 ± 5.1 | Con: 11.1 ± 5.2 | NR | |||
| HIIT: 12.4 ± 4.5 | HIIT: 10.1 ± 1.3 | NR | |||
| Abdelbasset et al. (2020) [1] | Con: n = 16 HIIT: n = 16 MICT: n = 15 |
VFA: MRI Liver fat: MRI |
VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 179.8 ± 14.4 | Con: 177.2 ± 12.8 | NR | |||
| HIIT: 184.5 ± 12.3 | HIIT: 166.4 ± 11.6 | NR | |||
| MICT: 181.7 ± 13.5 | MICT: 170.3 ± 10.6 | NR | |||
| Liver fat: | Liver fat: | ||||
| Con: 11.2 ± 5.1 | Con: 11.1 ± 5.2 | NR | |||
| HIIT: 12.4 ± 4.5 | HIIT: 10.1 ± 1.3 | NR | |||
| MICT: 12.9 ± 4.2 | MICT: 10.5 ± 1.5 | NR | |||
| Barone et al. (2012) [31] | Con: n= 63 Combined Exe (A-Exe + R-Exe): n= 49 |
VFA: MRI | VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 169 ± 75 | Con: 167 ± 71 | Con: −2 ± 36 | |||
| Combined Exe: 155 ± 70 | Combined Exe: 149 ± 68 | Combined Exe: −6 ± 33 | |||
| Bonekamp et al. (2008) [32] | Con: n = 20 Combined Exe (A-Exe + R-Exe): n = 25 |
Liver fat: H-MRS | Liver fat: | Liver fat: | |
| Con: 7.45 ± 5.65 | Con: 8.5 ± 6.09 | NR | |||
| Combined Exe: 6.8 ± 5.15 | Combined Exe: 5.78 ± 4.93 | NR | |||
| Botton et al. (2018) [33] | Con: n = 13 R-Exe: n = 13 |
VFA: Ultrasonography | VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 73.10 ± 22.80 | Con: 68.18 ± 21.04 | NR | |||
| R-Exe: 78.41 ± 17.38 | 7 R-Exe: 3.75 ± 17.57 | NR | |||
| Bouchi et al. (2021) [34] | Con: n = 69 R-Exe: n = 72 |
Trunk fat mass: DXA | Trunk fat mass: | Trunk fat mass: | |
| Con: 12.3 ± 5.2 | Con: 11.5 ± 4.9 | Con: −0.9 ± 1.2 | |||
| R-Exe: 12.9 ± 5.1 | R-Exe: 11.5 ± 5.1 | R-Exe: −1.5 ± 1.2 | |||
| Boudou et al. (2001) [23] | Con: n = 8 A-Exe: n = 8 |
VFA: MRI SAT: MRI |
VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 156.85 ± 23.40 | Con: 150.35 ± 23.25 | NR | |||
| A-Exe: 153.25 ± 38.55 | A-Exe: 84.20 ± 21.30 | NR | |||
| SAT: | SAT: | ||||
| Con: 262.50± 69.10 | Con: 260.00± 70.40 | NR | |||
| A-Exe: 241.55± 49.55 | A-Exe: 198.00 ± 39.00 | NR | |||
| Bozzetto et al. (2012) [35] | MUFA diet: n = 8 MUFA diet + A-Exe: n = 9 CHO Diet: n = 9 CHO Diet + A-Exe: n = 10 |
Liver fat: H-MRS | Liver fat: | Liver fat: | |
| MUFA diet: 7.4 ± 2.8 | MUFA diet: 5.2 ± 2.7 | NR | |||
| A-Exe1: 11.6 ± 8.0 | A-Exe1: 9.1 ± 7.0 | NR | |||
| CHO Diet: 17.7 ± 9.7 | CHO Diet: 16.1 ± 6.8 | NR | |||
| A-Exe2: 8.8 ± 4.9 | A-Exe2: 8.9 ± 5.7 | NR | |||
| Cassidy et al. (2016) [36] | Con: n = 11 HIIT: n = 12 |
VFA: MRI Liver fat: H-MRS |
VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 159 ± 58 | Con: 181 ± 72 | NR | |||
| HIIT: 201 ± 80 | HIIT: 146.8 ± 36.7 | NR | |||
| Liver fat: | Liver fat: | ||||
| Con: 7.1 ± 6.8 | Con: 7.7 ± 6.9 | NR | |||
| HIIT: 6.9 ± 6.9 | HIIT: 4.2 ± 3.6 | NR | |||
| Celli et al. (2022) [26] | Con: n = 50 Combined Exe (A-Exe + R-Exe): n = 50 |
VFA: DEXA | VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 1196 ± 403 | NR | Con: −30 ± 190.9 | |||
| Combined Exe: 1203 ± 353.5 | NR | Combined Exe: −261 ± 205 | |||
| Choi et al. (2012) [48] | Con: n = 37 MICT: n = 38 |
VFA: CT scan SAT: CT scan |
VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 149.2 ± 41.5 | Con: 146.8 ± 36.7 | NR | |||
| MICT: 153.7 ± 38.9 | MICT: 136.6 ± 39.2 | NR | |||
| SAT: | SAT: | ||||
| Con: 217.6 ± 58.1 | Con: 217.6 ± 58.1 | NR | |||
| MICT: 219.7 ± 64.4 | MICT: 200.3 ± 59.7 | NR | |||
| Cuff et al. (2003) [49] | Con: n = 9 A-Exe: n = 9 Combined Exe (A-Exe + R-Exe): n = 10 |
VFA: CT/i scanner IMCL: CT/i scanner SAT: CT/i scanner |
VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 259.1 ± 103.2 | NR | Con: −0.4 ± 36 | |||
| A-Exe: 215.7 ± 77.4 | NR | A-Exe: −8.8 ± 16.2 | |||
| Combined Exe: 251.1 ± 72.4 | NR | Combined Exe: −26.3 ± 23.4 | |||
| IMCL: | IMCL: | ||||
| Con: 225.8 ± 26.7 | NR | Con: 0.7 ± 4.8 | |||
| A-Exe: 224.1 ± 47.4 | NR | A-Exe: 0.9 ± 6.3 | |||
| Combined Exe: 208 ± 3162 | NR | Combined Exe: 5.9 ± 6.3 | |||
| SAT: | SAT: | ||||
| Con: 549.3 ± 152.4 | NR | Con: 17.4 ±27 | |||
| A-Exe: 401.2 ± 128.7 | NR | A-Exe: −8.2 ± 29.1 | |||
| Combined Exe: 468.9 ± 85.06 | NR | Combined Exe: −22.0 ± 48.69 | |||
| Dobrosielski et al. (2012) [37] | Con: n = 63 Combined Exe (A-Exe + R-Exe): n = 51 |
VFA: MRI SAT: MRI |
VFA: | VFA: | VFA: |
| Con: 165.2 ± 74.4 | Con: 161.3 ± 70.6 | Con: −2.1 ± 36.51 | |||
| Combined Exe: 153.3 ± 68.6 | Combined Exe: 145.0 ± 60.7 | Combined Exe: −8.1 ± 37.13 | |||
| SAT: | SAT: | SAT: | |||
| Con: 404.7 ± 119.85 | Con: 401.4 ± 126.99 | Con: −6.1 ± 12.69 | |||
| Combined Exe: 399.9 ± 122.11 | Combined Exe: 381.6 ± 114.26 | Combined Exe: −20.0 ± 12.14 | |||
| Giannopoulou et al. (2005) [50] | Diet: n = 11 Diet + A-Exe: n = 11 |
VFA: MRI SAT: MRI |
VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 4785 ± 1592 | Con: 4425 ± 1442.7 | NR | |||
| A-Exe: 5912 ± 1605.2 | A-Exe: 5152 ± 1456 | NR | |||
| SAT: | SAT: | ||||
| Con: 9900.85 ± 3100 | Con: 9093.48 ± 3382.3 | NR | |||
| A-Exe: 10,028.3 ± 3100 | A-Exe: 8966.01 ± 3100.5 | NR | |||
| Jiang et al. (2020) [38] | Con: n: M = 11 F = 13 A-Exe: n: M = 14 F = 11 |
VFA: bioelectrical impedance analysis equipment SAT: bioelectrical impedance analysis equipment |
VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con (M): 103.9 ± 44.8 | Con (M): 112.4 ± 47.1 | NR | |||
| Con (F): 88.2 ± 23.8 | Con (F): 91.5 ± 21.0 | NR | |||
| A-Exe (M): 106.2 ± 33.5 | A-Exe (M): 91.8 ± 29.6 | NR | |||
| A-Exe (F): 85.6 ± 40.2 | A-Exe (F): 75.0 ± 27.6 | NR | |||
| SAT: | SAT: | ||||
| Con (M): 213.7 ± 69.4 | Con (M): 220.5 ± 68.1 | NR | |||
| Con (F): 212.5 ± 46.4 | Con (F): 220.8 ± 49.1 | NR | |||
| A-Exe (M): 214.4 ± 39.7 | A-Exe(M): 192.7 ± 40.6 | NR | |||
| A-Exe (F): 209.9 ± 58.3 | A-Exe (F): 192.7 ± 53.7 | NR | |||
| Jung et al. (2012) [51] | Con: n = 12 A-Exe1: n = 8 A-Exe2: n = 8 |
VFA: visceral fat cm2 via CT SAT: CT |
VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 17,790.2 ± 5621.7 | Con: 17,372.7 ± 5235.7 | NR | |||
| A-Exe1: 15,784.6 ± 4662.7 | A-Exe1: 13,262.5 ± 3217.8 | NR | |||
| A-Exe2: 13,726.6 ± 3011.8 | A-Exe2: 12,447.4 ± 2252.6 | NR | |||
| SAT: | SAT: | ||||
| Con: 22,153.9 ± 5700.5 | Con: 22,627.6 ± 5799.0 | NR | |||
| A-Exe1: 19,413.1 ± 3265.9 | A-Exe1: 18,441.1 ± 3215.2 | NR | |||
| A-Exe2: 18,669.4 ± 5027.3 | A-Exe2: 17,311.1 ± 5306.8 | NR | |||
| Jung et al. (2014) [52] | Con: n = 18 A-Exe: n = 17 |
VFA: visceral fat cm2 via CT SAT: CT |
VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 16,175.2 ± 4296.6 | Con: 16,175.2 ± 4196.6 | NR | |||
| A-Exe: 14,757.1 ± 2708.5 | A-Exe: 14,757.1 ± 2708.5 | NR | |||
| SAT: | SAT: | ||||
| Con: 23,186.1 ± 5858.8 | Con: 21,957.2 ± 5563.5 | NR | |||
| A-Exe: 20,333.0 ± 6297.7 | A-Exe: 18,217.4 ± 6310.8 | NR | |||
| Karstoft et al. (2013) [39] | Con: n = 8 MICT: n = 12 HIIT: n = 12 |
VFA: MRI | VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 4.7 ± 1.1 | Con: 4.6 ± 1.3 | NR | |||
| 4.5 ± 1.0 | 4.2 ± 1.3 | NR | |||
| 4.7 ± 2.7 | 4.2 ± 2.4 | NR | |||
| Kong et al. (2022) [40] | Con: n = 43 A-Exe: n = 43 |
VFA: CT scanner | VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 118.1 ± 33.7 | Con: 118.8 ± 32.5 | NR | |||
| 117.5 ± 32.7 | 94.2 ± 31.7 | NR | |||
| Koo et al. (2010) [53] | Con: n = 18 A-Exe: n = 13 Diet: n = 19 Diet + A-Exe: n = 14 |
VFA: CT SAT: CT |
VFA: | VFA: | VFA: |
| Con1: 172.4 | Con1: 163.4 | Con1: −8.0 ± 30.3 | |||
| A-Exe1: 162.4 | A-Exe1: 146.9 | A-Exe1: −29.7 ± 23.3 | |||
| Con2: 157.8 | Con2: 151.7 | Con2: −19.5 ± 28.0 | |||
| A-Exe2: 152.7 | A-Exe2: 120.0 | A-Exe2: −38.2 ± 26.0 | |||
| SAT: | SAT: | SAT: | |||
| Con1: 208.1 | Con1: 204.0 | Con1: 0.1 ± 21.4 | |||
| A-Exe1: 219.0 | A-Exe1: 220.0 | A-Exe1: −16.8 ± 23.6 | |||
| Con2: 216.5 | Con2: 196.1 | Con2: −27.6 ± 27 | |||
| A-Exe2: 263.9 | A-Exe2: 231.7 | A-Exe2: −26.5 ± 25.2 | |||
| Ku et al. (2010) [54] | Con: n = 16 R-Exe: n = 13 A-Exe: n = 15 |
VFA: CT (g) IMCL: CT SAT: CT |
VFA: | VFA: | VFA: |
| Con: 17,530 ± 4747 | Con: 17,362 ± 4728 | Con: −168 ± 1801 | |||
| R-Exe: 15,658 ± 4754 | R-Exe: 14,678 ± 3456 | R-Exe: −980 ± 2353 | |||
| A-Exe: 15,890 ± 4593 | A-Exe: 15,038 ± 3369 | A-Exe: −852 ± 2839 | |||
| IMCL: | IMCL: | IMCL: | |||
| Con: 564 ± 222 | Con: 532 ± 215 | Con: −32 ± 171 | |||
| R-Exe: 412 ± 160 | R-Exe: 416 ± 159 | R-Exe: 4 ± 199 | |||
| A-Exe: 509 ± 178 | 478 ± 184 | A-Exe: −31 ± 159 | |||
| SAT: | SAT: | SAT: | |||
| Con: 7371 ± 2620 | Con: 7313 ± 2479 | Con: −58 ± 1316 | |||
| R-Exe: 6697 ± 2674 | R-Exe: 7660 ± 2760 | R-Exe: 963 ± 1157 | |||
| A-Exe: 7187 ± 2960 | A-Exe: 7849 ± 2510 | A-Exe: 662 ± 966 | |||
| Kwon et al. (2010) a [55] | Con: n = 15 R-Exe: n = 13 |
VFA: CT SAT: CT |
VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 17,268.7 ± 5060.9 | Con: 17,745.1 ± 4715.3 | NR | |||
| R-Exe: 15,657.8 ± 4753.6 | R-Exe: 14,677.8 ± 3455.9 | NR | |||
| SAT: | SAT: | ||||
| Con: 24,357.5 ± 5437.8 | Con: 23,721.7 ± 5131.6 | NR | |||
| R-Exe: 24,402.4 ± 7903.2 | R-Exe: 22,731.9 ± 7264.2 | NR | |||
| Kwon et al. (2010) b [56] | Con: n = 14 A-Exe: n = 13 |
VFA: CT SAT: CT |
VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 17,204.5 ± 4674.4 | Con: 17,216.3 ± 4560.8 | NR | |||
| A-Exe: 16,291.5 ± 4808.5 | A-Exe: 14,682.7 ± 3494.7 | NR | |||
| SAT: | SAT: | ||||
| Con: 25,152.9 ± 5839.3 | Con: 24,664.6 ± 5580.4 | NR | |||
| A-Exe: 23,891.9 ± 6439.1 | A-Exe: 21,803.7 ± 6153.7 | NR | |||
| Li et al. (2022) [27] | Con: n = 53 A-Exe: n = 53 |
VFA: MRI SAT: MRI |
VFA: | VFA: | VFA: |
| Con: 114.31 ± 56.60 | Con: 117.90 ± 44.26 | Con: 3.60 ± 19.26 | |||
| A-Exe: 104.37 ± 43.90 | A-Exe: 96.24 ± 36.39 | A-Exe: −8.13 ± 21.51 | |||
| SAT: | SAT: | SAT: | |||
| Con: 177.86 ± 78.45 | Con: 180.18 ± 76.80 | Con: 2.31 ± 8.76 | |||
| A-Exe: 178.99 ± 66.66 | A-Exe: 168.81 ± 64.09 | A-Exe: −10.18 ± 22.43 | |||
| Lyngbæk et al. (2023) [41] | Diet: n = 20 Diet + Combined Exe1: n = 20 Diet + Combined Exe2: n = 21 |
VFA: MRI SAT: MRI |
VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 4659.5 ± 1719.8 | NR | Con: −16.39 ± 5.83 | |||
| Combined Exe1: 4937.0 ± 1220.4 | NR | Combined Exe1: −30.22 ± 16.3 | |||
| Combined Exe2: 4257.9 ± 1006.8 | NR | Combined Exe2: −42.35 ± 11.66 | |||
| SAT: | SAT: | ||||
| Con: 4660.2 ± 686.3 | NR | Con: −12.33 ± 7.8 | |||
| Combined Exe1: 3414.1 ± 504.2 | NR | Combined Exe1: −18.69 ± 11 | |||
| Combined Exe2: 4127.6 ± 1341 | NR | Combined Exe2: −29.97 ± 17.35 | |||
| Mavros et al. (2013) [42] | Con: n = 46 R-Exe: n = 37 |
VFA: CT IMCL: CT |
VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 211.3 ± 93.9 | Con: 210.7 ± 95.9 | NR | |||
| R-Exe: 215.0 ± 81.8 | R-Exe: 202.3 ± 73.3 | NR | |||
| IMCL: | IMCL: | ||||
| Con: 109.8 ± 21.7 | Con: 109.4 ± 22.4 | NR | |||
| R-Exe: 112.5 ± 25.8 | R-Exe: 117.8 ± 30.1 | NR | |||
| Mourier et al. (1997) [25] | Con: n = 11 A-Exe: n = 10 |
VFA: MRI SAT: MRI |
VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 139.4 ± 36.8 | Con: 134.9 ± 33.8 | NR | |||
| A-Exe: 156.1 ± 47.4 | A-Exe: 80.4 ± 22.1 | NR | |||
| SAT: | SAT: | ||||
| Con: 269.6 ± 64.34 | Con: 260.3 ± 71.63 | NR | |||
| A-Exe: 227.3 ± 57.23 | A-Exe: 186.7 ± 44.58 | NR | |||
| Otten et al. (2018) [43] | Diet: n = 13 Diet + Combined Exe: n = 13 |
Liver fat: H-MRS IMCL: H-MRS |
Liver fat: | Liver fat: | |
| Con: 20.30 ± 8.48 | Con: 11.713 ± 6.41 | NR | |||
| Combined Exe: 22.86 ± 15.47 | Combined Exe: 19.32 ± 16.41 | NR | |||
| IMCL: | IMCL: | ||||
| Con: 20.3 ± 8.48 | Con: 11.71 ± 6.41 | NR | |||
| Combined Exe: 22.86 ± 15.47 | Combined Exe: 19.32 ± 16.41 | NR | |||
| Sabag et al. (2020) [28] | Con: n = 11 MICT: n = 12 HIIT: n = 12 |
Liver fat: H-MRS | Liver fat: | Liver fat: | |
| Con: 11.8 ± 7.6 | Con: 13.0 ± 8.9 | NR | |||
| MICT: 9.4 ± 6.9 | MICT: 8.6 ± 7.2 | NR | |||
| HIIT: 9.7 ± 8.3 | HIIT: 8.0 ± 7.6 | NR | |||
| Sigal et al. (2007) [24] | Con: n = 63 A-Exe: n = 60 R-Exe: n = 64 Combined Exe (A-Exe + R-Exe): n = 64 |
VFA: CT SAT: CT |
VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 252 ± 147 | Con: 250 ± 147 | NR | |||
| A-Exe: 257 ± 161 | A-Exe: 244 ± 161 | NR | |||
| R-Exe: 228 ± 156 | R-Exe: 218 ± 156 | NR | |||
| Combined Exe: 246 ± 159 | Combined Exe: 224 ± 159 | NR | |||
| SAT: | SAT: | ||||
| Con: 420 ± 209 | Con: 416 ± 209 | NR | |||
| A-Exe: 448 ± 230 | A-Exe: 431 ± 230 | NR | |||
| R-Exe: 412 ± 227 | R-Exe: 394 ± 227 | NR | |||
| Combined Exe: 416 ± 230 | Combined Exe: 389 ± 230 | NR | |||
| Snel et al. (2012) [29] | Diet: n = 14 Diet + A-Exe: n = 13 |
IMCL: muscle biopsy | IMCL: | IMCL: | |
| Con: 2 ± 1.5 | Con: 1.28 ± 1.0 | NR | |||
| A-Exe: 1.88 ± 1.1 | A-Exe: 1.16 ± 0.7 | NR | |||
| Stomby et al. (2020) [44] | Diet: n = 15 Diet + Exe: n = 13 |
Liver fat: MRS | Liver fat: | Liver fat: | |
| Con: 22 ± 20 | Con: 5 ± 11 | NR | |||
| Exe: 14 ± 19 | Exe: 10 ± 22 | NR | |||
| Szilagyi et al. (2019) [45] | Con: n = 105 Combined Exe (A-Exe + R-Exe): n = 103 |
VFA: Omron Body Composition Monitor BF511 | VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 15.20 ± 5.55 | Con: 16.52 ± 4.73 | NR | |||
| Combined Exe: 15.13 ± 5.85 | Combined Exe: 14.76 ± 5.26 | NR | |||
| Tan et al. (2018) [57] | Con: n = 15 A-Exe: n = 16 |
Visceral trunk fat: bioelectrical impedance analysis equipment | Visceral trunk fat: | Visceral trunk fat: | |
| Con: 39.9 ± 7.5 | Con: 40.1 ± 7.8 | NR | |||
| A-Exe: 39.6 ± 7.1 | A-Exe: 34.7 ± 6.5 | NR | |||
| Winding et al. (2018) [46] | Con: n = 7 A-Exe: n = 12 HIIT: n = 13 |
VFA: dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry | VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 2.0 ± 0.6 | Con: 2.1 ± 0.6 | NR | |||
| A-Exe: 1.6 ± 0.8 | A-Exe: 1.4 ± 0.7 | NR | |||
| HIIT: 1.7 ± 0.8 | HIIT: 1.5 ± 0.7 | NR | |||
| Yamaguchi et al. (2011) [47] | Con: n = 8 A-Exe: n = 11 |
VFA: CT scan SAT: CT scan |
VFA: | VFA: | |
| Con: 162.8 ± 61.9 | Con: 153.6 ± 55.8 | NR | |||
| A-Exe: 138.2 ± 56.5 | A-Exe: 108.1 ± 51.6 | NR | |||
| SAT: | SAT: | ||||
| Con: 193.1 ± 143.3 | Con: 184.1 ± 145.6 | NR | |||
| A-Exe: 255.4 ± 139.1 | A-Exe: 245.4 ± 132.9 | NR |
Abbreviations: n: number of subjects; Con: control; A-Exe: aerobic exercise; R-Exe: resistance exercise; D: diet; Exe: exercise; HIIT: high-intensity interval training; MICT: moderate-intensity aerobic exercise; SIT: sprint interval training; NR: no report; H-MRS: proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy; CT: computed tomography; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; LA: liver attenuation; IMCL: intramyocellular lipid.