Fatty Liver Update

Vigorous exercise may reduce risk for fatty liver progression. The Los Angeles Times (4/13, Stein) "Booster Shots" blog reports that walking on a treadmill "may put the brakes on the development of fatty liver disease" (NAFLD) in pre-diabetic, obese people, according to findings presented at the American Physiological Society's Experimental Biology meeting. The researchers followed "15 obese people" with NAFLD as they "walked on a treadmill at a fairly high intensity (85% of their maximum heart rate) for one hour a day for a week." After seven days, the study participants had "increased their polysaturated lipid index by an average 84%, bumped up their adiponectin levels and had better insulin sensitivity. ... 'The participants were burning more fat,' which may in turn reduce damage from fatty liver disease," said lead author Jacob Haus from the Cleveland Clinic. HealthDay (4/13, Preidt) also covered the study.