NCT07467512

Exercise for an Aging Liver (EXALIVER)

Evaluation of the Impact of Physical Exercise on Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease in the Elderly

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Consorcio Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) · Other Government
• Sex: All
• Age: 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how physical exercise affects liver health in adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) or at-risk metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH); comparing responses between middle-aged adults (40-60 years old) and older adults (70 years and older) of any sex, as well as between participants with low-risk MASLD and high-risk MASH. The main question it aims to answer is: Could an exercise program reduce liver fat, inflammation and fibrosis, regardless of age and disease severity? Researchers will compare 4 different groups: A) older adults with at risk MASH who will exercise B) middle-aged people with at risk MASH who will exercise C) middle-aged people with low-risk MASLD who will exercise D) middle-aged people with low-risk MASLD who will not exercise, receiving usual care. Participants in the exercise groups will take part in a supervised 12-week exercise program that includes both strength and aerobic training, completed twice a week. All participants, including those receiving usual care, will have health asssessments before and after the 12-week period to measure changes in liver health.

Conditions

• MASLD - Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease
• MASH - Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis
• Liver Fibrosis/NASH

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Exercise	The exercise intervention will include 2 days/week of supervised moderate-high intensity resistance training (rating perceived exertion \>7, circuit-training, upper and lower body exercises involving major muscle groups) and high-intensity interval training (4 sets of 4-minute intervals at \>85% peak heat rate with 4-minute of active recovery at 50-65% peak heat rate, uphill treadmill walking). Moreover, participants will receive an individualized moderate-intensity goal-setting aerobic (walking) program to achieve a minimum of 135 minutes per week.
BEHAVIORAL	Usual Care	Participants will receive standard recommendations on healthy lifestyle based on Mediterranean dietary pattern and physical activity recommendations for weight loss and health promotion.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-03-01
• Primary completion: 2027-06-01
• Completion: 2027-10-01
• First posted: 2026-03-12
• Last updated: 2026-03-12

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Spain