A new study published in the journal Molecular Metabolism found that exercising regularly can help prevent the development of fatty liver associated diseases. People who suffer from non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD) often have type 2 diabetes as well as an increased risk of liver cirrhosis, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality.
NAFLD occurs when fat deposits accumulate in the liver and with time can disrupt the function of liver cells, which can lead to inflammation within the organ.
Exercise can prevent fatty liver disease caused by overeating
In the study conducted by Dr. Miriam Hoene and Dr. Lisa Kappler, mice were fed a high-energy diet (HED). The high-energy diet (HED) contained added sugar (10% weight sucrose) and fat (20% weight lard).
At the end of the six-week study, researchers found that mice who also trained three days a week for 1 hour on a treadmill showed better weight control than those that stayed sedentary.
The results showed that training helped regulate important enzymes in the liver responsible for breaking down glucose and fructose. As a consequence, less fat is stored in the liver – and specific lipids such as diacylglycerol are reduced. In addition, the exercise-trained mice on the HED diet also experienced better glucose control.