Physical Activity by Accelerometer Inversely Associated With Liver Fibrosis; Cross-Sectional Analysis of a...

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Metabolic Health
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) can progress to advanced liver fibrosis, increasing mortality risk.
• The role of physical activity in managing MASLD-related fibrosis requires further characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cross-sectional association between accelerometer-measured physical activity (PA) and liver fibrosis.
• To determine if moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with reduced liver fibrosis, independent of BMI and steatosis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized vibration-controlled transient elastography to measure liver stiffness and fibrosis in 2201 adults.
• Employed accelerometer data to quantify daily and weekly physical activity levels.
• Conducted multivariable regression analyses, adjusting for key covariates like age, sex, BMI, and alcohol consumption.

Main Results:

• A significant inverse association was observed between MVPA and liver fibrosis.
• Each additional 30 minutes of daily MVPA reduced the odds of fibrosis (OR 0.57), even after adjusting for BMI or steatosis.
• Individuals meeting 150 minutes/week of MVPA had the lowest odds of hepatic fibrosis (OR 0.51).

Conclusions:

• Increased time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is inversely associated with liver fibrosis in a community-based cohort.
• Physical activity may play a crucial role in mitigating liver fibrosis progression in MASLD.
• Further interventional studies are warranted to explore the potential of MVPA in reversing liver fibrosis.