Therapeutic effects of restricted diet and exercise in obese patients with fatty liver.
OBJECTIVE
The incidence of obese patients with fatty liver has recently increased in Japan as well as in the United States and Europe. Fatty liver may occasionally progress to liver cirrhosis. In this study, we have compared the effects of restricted diet and exercise versus no treatment in obese patients with fatty liver.


METHODS
Twenty-five obese patients with fatty liver were divided into treated and control groups. Fifteen obese patients followed a program of restricted diet (ideal weight x 25 Cal x kg(-1)) and exercise (walking or jogging) for a trial period of 3 months. No changes in diet or lifestyle were made by the other 10 patients during the same trial period. Blood biochemical tests and liver histology were compared in all patients before and after the trial.


RESULTS
In the treated group, weight, blood biochemical data such as aminotransferase, albumin, cholinesterase, total cholesterol and fasting blood glucose values, and steatosis were significantly decreased after the trial. In the control group, there were no significant differences in the clinical and histological findings before and after the trial.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that restricted diet and exercise therapy, such as walking and jogging, are useful means of improving blood biochemical data and histological findings in liver tissues related to fatty liver.
Ueno
T
T
2nd Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.
Sugawara
H
H
Sujaku
K
K
Hashimoto
O
O
Tsuji
R
R
Tamaki
S
S
Torimura
T
T
Inuzuka
S
S
Sata
M
M
Tanikawa
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015415:Biomarkers