According to study findings published online in Liver International, exercise training is recommended and has been shown to potentially reverse liver fibrosis among patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. However, its efficacy independent of body weight loss remains debated. The study analyzed data from the NASHFit trial, where patients underwent 20 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise alongside dietary counseling, compared to standard clinical care. Despite no significant weight loss, exercise participants showed significant improvements in liver fibroinflammation biomarkers. Specifically, 53% experienced at least 17 IU/L reduction in alanine aminotransferase compared with 13% in the control group (P<0.001) and a mean reduction of 24% versus 10% in standard clinical care, respectively. Furthermore, exercise significantly decreased CK18 levels (−61 vs. +71 ng/mL, P=0.040).
