NCT06359444

Effect of High Intensity Exercise Rehabilitation on Liver Function and Insulin Sensitivity in Patients With MASLD

Effect of High Intensity Exercise Rehabilitation on Hepatic Fatty Acids (Liver Function), Insulin Sensitivity and Cardiovascular Risk in Patients With MASLD

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 92 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University Ghent · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide, and is associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Physical activity and lifestyle interventions are among the most recommended treatments for individuals with MASLD. In this RCT, we will evaluate the effect of combined exercise training "strength and aerobic training" versus "strength and high intensity training (HIIT)". The main outcome parameter is the severity of liver steatosis. Patients will be recruited at the fatty liver clinic of the UZ Gent.

Detailed description

Physical activity and lifestyle interventions, including exercise, are recommended for individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Weight loss has been found to improve MASLD histologically, but exercise alone can also reduce liver fat accumulation, even without significant weight loss. Exercise has positive effects on chronic inflammation, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and mitochondrial function in MASLD patients. Studies suggest that both aerobic and resistance exercise are effective in reducing fat content and liver enzyme levels in MASLD, and thereby generate positive effects on insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular risk. The potential of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is large in various settings, but was never explored in this population. Moreover, the combination with strength training can have additional health effects which remain to be explored. All subjects are recruited in the liver steatosis outpatient clinic of the university hospital in Ghent by the physicians and researchers of this study. After patient selection and obtaining informed consent, they will be screened in the rehabilitation center for cardiorespiratory fitness.

Conditions

• Exercise Therapy
• Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Combined aerobic + strength training	Participants will follow a combination of endurance and strength training for 14 weeks. There will be three sessions every week: two at Ghent university department of rehabilitation and one at home. Each session will last approximately one hour.
OTHER	Combined strength + HIIT training	6 weeks of endurance training and strength training, 8 weeks of strength training and HIIT. Participants will follow the same combination of endurance and strength training for the first six weeks, to build up to a baseline level of physical fitness. They will then switch to eight weeks of a combination of strength training and High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). There will be three sessions every week: two at Ghent university department of rehabilitation and one at home. Each session will last approximately one hour.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-04-26
• Primary completion: 2026-03-15
• Completion: 2026-03-15
• First posted: 2024-04-11
• Last updated: 2024-06-07

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Belgium