Table 2.
Randomized Controlled Trials of Exercise and the Effect on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
| Reference | n | Exercise Intervention | Main Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacchi et al., 201345 | 40 | AE vs. RE, 3×/week for 16 weeks | Equal effects on reducing intrahepatic fat |
| Balducci et al., 2015110 | 606 | AE + RE vs. control, 2×/week for 12 months | Reduced fatty liver index |
| Cassidy et al., 201339 | 28 | AE vs. controls, 3×/week for 12 weeks | Decreased hepatic lipid content, improvement in cardiac function |
| Cuthbertson et al., 201658 | 69 | AE vs. control, 3–5×/week for 16 weeks | Decreased hepatic lipid content, improved peripheral insulin sensitivity |
| Eckard et al., 201315 | 56 | AE vs. AE + low fat diet, 4–7×/week for 6 months | Decrease in NASH activity score on liver biopsy |
| Finucane et al., 201032 | 100 | AE vs. control, 1×/week for 12 weeks | Decreased hepatic lipid content, improved cardiorespiratory fitness |
| Goodpaster et al., 201033 | 130 | Diet + AE for 6 months vs. diet + AE for 12 months, 5×/week | 12-Month intervention resulted in greater decrease in hepatic fat content, with equal reduction in insulin resistance |
| Hallsworth et al., 201146 | 21 | RE vs. control, 3×/week for 8 weeks | Decreased hepatic lipid content, improved insulin resistance |
| Hallsworth et al., 201528 | 29 | High intensity AE vs. control, 3×/week for 12 weeks | Decreased hepatic lipid content, improved cardiorespiratory fitness |
| Houghton et al., 201740 | 24 | AE + RE vs. control, 3×/week for 12 weeks | Decreased hepatic lipid content and plasma triglycerides |
| Larson-Meyer et al., 200834 | 23 | Diet + AE vs. diet vs. control, 5×/week for 6 months | Decreased hepatic lipid content |
| Lee et al., 201241 | 45 | AE vs. RE vs. control, 3×/week for 12 weeks | Decreased hepatic lipid content. RE improved insulin sensitivity |
| Levinger et al., 2009111 | 55 | RE vs. control, 3×/week for 10 weeks | No reduction in ALT/AST or inflammatory markers |
| Monteiro et al., 201542 | 32 | AE vs. AE + RE vs. control, 3×/week for 20 weeks | Decreased hepatic fat content |
| de Piano et al., 2012105 | 58 | AE vs. AE + RE, 3×/week for 12 months | AE + RE results in reduced ALT and insulin resistance, and increased adipokine levels |
| Promrat et al., 201016 | 31 | AE + diet vs. control, 1×/week for 48 weeks | Decrease in NASH activity score on liver biopsy |
| Pugh et al., 2013103 | 20 | AE vs. control, 3×/week for 16 weeks | No difference in hepatic fat content. Improved ALT/AST levels |
| Pugh et al., 2014104 | 31 | AE vs. control, 3×/week for 16 weeks | No difference in hepatic fat content. Improved ALT/AST levels. Improved cardiovascular risk factors |
| Shah et al., 200935 | 18 | Diet + AE/RE vs. diet, 3×/week for 6 months | Comparable decrease in hepatic lipid content and insulin resistance |
| Shoojaee-Moradie et al., 200754 | 17 | AE vs. control, 3×/week for 6 weeks | No difference in intrahepatic fat content. Decreased circulating FFA, increased insulin sensitivity |
| Skrypnik et al., 2016106 | 44 | AE vs. AE + RE, 3×/week for 3 months | AE + RE results in greater reduction in ALT and AST |
| Slentz et al., 201143 | 196 | AE vs. RE vs. AE + RE, 3×/week for 8 months | Regimens including AE result in greater reduction in hepatic fat content, ALT and insulin resistance |
| Straznicky et al., 2012112 | 63 | Diet + AE vs. diet vs. control, 300 min/week for 12 weeks | Decreased insulin resistance, ALT, γ-GT; no significant differences between diet + AE and diet alone |
| Sullivan et al., 201236 | 18 | AE vs. control, 3×/week for 16 weeks | Decreased hepatic lipid content, decreased circulating FFA, improved insulin sensitivity |
| Tamura et al., 200537 | 14 | Diet + AE vs. diet, 5–6×/week for 2 weeks | Decreased hepatic lipid content in both groups. Improved insulin sensitivity in AE group |
| Thompson et al., 200962 | 41 | AE vs. control, 4×/week for 24 weeks | Decreased IL-6, ALT, and FFA |
| Wong et al., 201324 | 154 | AE vs. control, 3×/week for 12 months | Decreased hepatic lipid content |
| Yoshimura et al., 2014113 | 33 | Diet + AE vs. diet, 300 min/week for 12 weeks | Equal decrease in hepatic lipid content |
| Zelber-Sagi et al., 201438 | 82 | RE vs. control, 3×/week for 12 weeks | Improved steatosis and inflammation |
| Zhang et al., 201644 | 220 | AE vs. control, 150 min/week for 12 months | Decreased hepatic lipid content. Effect disappeared when adjusted for weight loss |
AE, aerobic exercise; RE, resistance exercise.