Exercise Combats Hepatic Steatosis: Potential Mechanisms and Clinical Implications.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2020

Identifier

DOI: 10.2337/dbi18-0043

Abstract

Hepatic steatosis, the excess storage of intrahepatic lipids, is a rampant clinical problem associated with the obesity epidemic. Hepatic steatosis is linked to increased risk for insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular and advanced liver disease. Accumulating evidence shows that physical activity, exercise, and aerobic capacity have profound effects on regulating intrahepatic lipids and mediating susceptibility for hepatic steatosis. Moreover, exercise can effectively reduce hepatic steatosis independent of changes in body mass. In this perspective, we highlight 1) the relationship between obesity and metabolic pathways putatively driving hepatic steatosis compared with changes induced by exercise; 2) the impact of physical activity, exercise, and aerobic capacity compared with caloric restriction on regulating intrahepatic lipids and steatosis risk; 3) the effects of exercise training (modalities, volume, intensity) for treatment of hepatic steatosis, and 4) evidence for a sustained protection against steatosis induced by exercise. Overall, evidence clearly indicates that exercise powerfully regulates intrahepatic storage of fat and risk for steatosis.

Journal Title

Diabetes

Volume

69

Issue

4

First Page

517

Last Page

524

MeSH Keywords

Animals; Body Mass Index; Caloric Restriction; Exercise; Fatty Liver; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Lipid Metabolism; Liver; Obesity

Keywords

Animals; Body Mass Index; Caloric Restriction; Exercise; Fatty Liver; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Lipid Metabolism; Liver; Obesity

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