title: A 12-week aerobic exercise program without energy restriction improves intrahepatic fat, liver function and atherosclerosis-related factors.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of a 12-week continuous aerobic exercise program without energy restriction on intrahepatic fat, indices of liver function (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase [γGTP]), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were divided into two groups based on the degree of intrahepatic fat accumulation at baseline (high liver fat [HLF]: n = 13; low liver fat [LLF]: n = 14). Participants were instructed to exercise for more than 300 min per week at the lactate threshold. Fat accumulation (intramuscular, intrahepatic, visceral and subcutaneous fat) was evaluated by computed tomography. Blood samples were taken to determine the levels of AST, ALT, PAI-1, glucose and insulin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Weight, body mass index, body fat, visceral fat and subcutaneous fat decreased significantly in both groups between baseline and post-intervention (P < 0.05), but were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). Intrahepatic fat, AST, ALT and PAI-1 improved significantly between baseline and post-intervention in the HLF group (P < 0.05; AST, P = 0.052), and improvements were significantly greater than those in the LLF group (P < 0.05). γGTP decreased significantly in the HLF group between baseline and post-intervention (P < 0.05), but was not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). HOMA-IR did not significantly improve between baseline and post-intervention either within or between the two groups (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed that a 12-week continuous aerobic exercise program without energy restriction might improve intrahepatic fat, liver function and atherosclerosis-related factors.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Eiichi
authors: E
authors: Yoshimura
authors: Faculty of Nutrition Sciences, Nakamura Gakuen University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Hideaki
authors: H
authors: Kumahara
authors: Faculty of Sports and Health Science, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Takuro
authors: T
authors: Tobina
authors: Faculty of Sports and Health Science, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Makoto
authors: M
authors: Ayabe
authors: Fukuoka Safety Center Co., Ltd., Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Sakiko
authors: S
authors: Matono
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan.
authors: Keizo
authors: K
authors: Anzai
authors: Faculty of Sports and Health Science, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Yasuki
authors: Y
authors: Higaki
authors: Faculty of Sports and Health Science, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Kiyonaga
authors: Fukuoka University Institute for Physical Activity, Fukuoka, Japan. Electronic address:htanaka@fukuoka-u.ac.jp.
authors: Hiroaki
authors: H
authors: Tanaka