Effects of physical activity in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common liver disease worldwide. The patomechanism is unknown, but unhealthy diet, high caloric and carbohydrate intake, physical inactivity play important role in the pathomechanism. Lifestyle modification, physical activity are regarded as a foundation for the management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Several tests have proved the beneficial effect of regular exercising on the histological differences of the liver tissue. Exercising also improves the sensitivity against insulin, increases lipogenesis and carbohydrate metabolism, at the same time the chance for steatosis and fibrosis decreases. Moreover, as a result of regular exercising the visceral fat tissue also decreases, which plays an important role in the inflammatory process and fibrogenesis of the liver. The alteration of the gut bacteria composition might also contribute to the positive changes in the liver. The lifestyle of everyday people nowadays, however, does not favour physical activity. Most people cannot or do not want to accept these facts. First and foremost, patients must be persuaded of the necessity of the change in their habits. Adequate physical activity in itself makes it possible that even without a diet liver disease can be prevented.