title: Endurance Exercise Reduces Hepatic Fat Content and Serum Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Levels in Elderly Men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Age-related hepatic fat accumulation increases the risk of cardiometabolic diseases, and the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21-resistant state caused by fatty liver underlies the pathogenesis of these diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies suggested that a higher level of cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with both lower hepatic fat content and serum FGF21 levels; however, the effect of endurance exercise on hepatic fat content and serum FGF21 concentration has not been studied. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate whether endurance exercise reduced hepatic fat content and serum FGF21 levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a randomized crossover trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study setting was an institutional practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three elderly Japanese men participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention was a 5-week endurance exercise program comprising three cycle ergometer sessions per week.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hepatic fat content was assessed by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and serum FGF21 level was determined by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 5-week endurance exercise program decreased the hepatic fat content and serum FGF21 levels without weight loss, and the changes were higher in the exercise period than in the control period (P = .021 and P = .026, respectively). Correlation analysis demonstrated that only the change in hepatic fat content was significantly and positively correlated with change in serum FGF21 levels (r = 0.366, P = .006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A 5-week endurance exercise program decreased hepatic fat content and serum FGF21 levels without weight loss in elderly men, and exercise-induced hepatic fat reduction mediated the reduction in serum FGF21 levels. These findings suggest that endurance exercise modulates hepatic fat content and FGF21 resistance, regardless of obesity status.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Sport Sciences (H.T., X.S., T.K.), Waseda University, Tokorozawa 359-1192, Japan; Faculty of Sport Sciences (K.T., M.H.), Waseda University, Tokorozawa 359-1192, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (K.T.), Tokyo 102-8472, Japan; Institute of Advanced Active Aging Research (M.H.), Tokorozawa 359-1192, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Sport Sciences (H.T., X.S., T.K.), Waseda University, Tokorozawa 359-1192, Japan; Faculty of Sport Sciences (K.T., M.H.), Waseda University, Tokorozawa 359-1192, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (K.T.), Tokyo 102-8472, Japan; Institute of Advanced Active Aging Research (M.H.), Tokorozawa 359-1192, Japan.
authors.forename: Kumpei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanisawa
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Sport Sciences (H.T., X.S., T.K.), Waseda University, Tokorozawa 359-1192, Japan; Faculty of Sport Sciences (K.T., M.H.), Waseda University, Tokorozawa 359-1192, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (K.T.), Tokyo 102-8472, Japan; Institute of Advanced Active Aging Research (M.H.), Tokorozawa 359-1192, Japan.
authors.forename: Xiaomin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Sport Sciences (H.T., X.S., T.K.), Waseda University, Tokorozawa 359-1192, Japan; Faculty of Sport Sciences (K.T., M.H.), Waseda University, Tokorozawa 359-1192, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (K.T.), Tokyo 102-8472, Japan; Institute of Advanced Active Aging Research (M.H.), Tokorozawa 359-1192, Japan.
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Sport Sciences (H.T., X.S., T.K.), Waseda University, Tokorozawa 359-1192, Japan; Faculty of Sport Sciences (K.T., M.H.), Waseda University, Tokorozawa 359-1192, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (K.T.), Tokyo 102-8472, Japan; Institute of Advanced Active Aging Research (M.H.), Tokorozawa 359-1192, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Higuchi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D001642:Bicycling; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness
chemical_list: C414620:fibroblast growth factor 21; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors