title: Effect of aerobic exercise training dose on liver fat and visceral adiposity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aerobic exercise reduces liver fat and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). However, there is limited data from randomized trials to inform exercise programming recommendations. This study examined the efficacy of commonly prescribed exercise doses for reducing liver fat and VAT using a randomized placebo-controlled design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inactive and overweight/obese adults received 8 weeks of either; i) low to moderate intensity, high volume aerobic exercise (LO:HI, 50% VO 2peak, 60 min, 4d/week); ii) high intensity, low volume aerobic exercise (HI:LO, 70% VO 2peak, 45 min, 3d/week); iii) low to moderate intensity, low volume aerobic exercise (LO:LO, 50% VO 2peak, 45 min, 3d/week); or iv) placebo (PLA). Liver fat (spectroscopy) and VAT (magnetic resonance imaging) were measured before and after intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-seven of the 48 (n = 12 in each group) participants completed the trial. There were no serious adverse events. There was a significant change in group × time interaction in liver fat, which reduced in HI:LO by 2.38 ± 0.73%, in LO:HI by 2.62 ± 1.00%, and in LO:LO by 0.84 ± 0.47% but not in PLA (increase of 1.10 ± 0.62%) (p = 0.04). There was a significant reduction in VAT in HI:LO (-258.38 ± 87.78 cm(3)), in LO:HI (-386.80 ± 119.5 cm(3)), and in LO:LO (-212.96 ± 105.54 cm(3)), but not in PLA (92.64 ± 83.46 cm(3)) (p = 0.03). There were no significant differences between the dose or intensity of the exercise regimen and reductions in liver fat or VAT (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study found no difference in efficacy of liver fat reduction by either aerobic exercise dose or intensity. All of the aerobic exercise regimens employed reduced liver fat and VAT by a small amount without clinically significant weight loss.
authors: Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Shelley E
authors: SE
authors: Keating
authors: Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Daniel A
authors: DA
authors: Hackett
authors: Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Helen M
authors: HM
authors: Parker
authors: Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Helen T
authors: HT
authors: O'Connor
authors: Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: Gerofi
authors: Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Sainsbury
authors: School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University, NSW, Australia.
authors: Michael K
authors: MK
authors: Baker
authors: School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
authors: Vivienne H
authors: VH
authors: Chuter
authors: Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Ian D
authors: ID
authors: Caterson
authors: Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Millennium Institute and Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: jacob.george@sydney.edu.au.
authors: Jacob
authors: J
authors: George
authors: Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia; Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Nathan A
authors: NA
authors: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Abdominal fat; NAFLD; Obesity; Physical activity; Weight loss