[Decrease of liver fat content by aerobic exercise or metformin therapy in overweight or obese women].

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Hepatology
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is linked to increased cardiovascular disease risk.
• Metformin is a common treatment, but adherence is limited by side effects.
• Aerobic exercise is a potential alternative, but its efficacy versus metformin for NAFLD is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of aerobic exercise versus metformin in treating NAFLD.
• To assess the impact of aerobic exercise on cardiovascular risk factors in women with NAFLD.

Main Methods:

• 16 sedentary overweight/obese women with NAFLD were randomized into an aerobic exercise group (EG) or metformin group (MG).
• EG performed 60 minutes of aerobic exercise 5 days/week; MG received 1g/day metformin for 12 weeks.
• Liver fat content, metabolic parameters, and cardiorespiratory fitness were measured before and after the intervention.

Main Results:

• Both groups showed reductions in liver fat content, with a greater reduction in the EG (14.6%) compared to the MG (10.37%).
• The EG experienced significant decreases in insulin levels and HOMA-IR (homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance).
• Cardiovascular fitness significantly improved in the EG.

Conclusions:

• A 12-week aerobic exercise program (300 min/week, moderate-to-vigorous intensity) effectively reduced liver fat content in women with NAFLD.
• Aerobic exercise improved cardiorespiratory fitness and multiple components of the metabolic syndrome, offering a holistic approach to cardiovascular risk reduction.