Telemonitoring-Supported Exercise Training in Employees With Metabolic Syndrome Improves Liver Inflammation and Fibrosis
Open Access
- 1 June 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology
- Vol. 12 (6), e00371
- https://doi.org/10.14309/ctg.0000000000000371
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major health problem worldwide and the main risk factor for metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Established treatment options are lifestyle interventions facilitating dietary change and increased physical activity. Here, we tested the effect of a telemonitoring-supported intervention on liver parameter of inflammation and fibrosis in individuals with MetS. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, parallel-group, and assessor-blind study performed in workers of the main Volkswagen factory (Wolfsburg, Germany). Volunteers with diagnosed MetS were randomly assigned (1:1) to a 6-month lifestyle intervention focusing on supervised, activity-tracker–guided exercise or to a waiting-list control group. This secondary analysis assessed the effect of the intervention on liver enzymes and MAFLD-related parameters. RESULTS: We screened 543 individuals between October 10, 2017, and February 27, 2018, of whom 314 were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 160) or control group (n = 154). Liver transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase significantly decreased after 6 months in the intervention group compared with the CG. Furthermore, an aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index score as a marker for liver fibrosis significantly decreased in the intervention group. These improvements were associated with changes in obesity and exercise capacity. DISCUSSION: A 6-month lifestyle intervention based on exercise training with individualized telemonitoring-based supervision led to improvements of liver inflammation and fibrosis in employees with MetS. Therefore, this intervention shows therapeutic potential for individuals at high risk of MAFLD ( ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03293264).This publication has 40 references indexed in Scilit:
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