Liver Enzymes in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases: Response to Pyramidal Versus Continuous Aerobic Training

Abstract

Purpose: The effect of choosing the type of exercise — the first-line conservative non-pharmacological therapy in managing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) — on improving liver enzymes has not been fully investigated.: This was a comparative trial aimed to examine the response of liver enzymes to pyramidal progressive-intensity (interval) versus continuous moderate-intensity aerobic training in NAFLD women.

Materials and Methods: Thirty-eight NAFLD women were randomized into a pyramidal training group (n=19) and a group of continuous moderate-intensity exercise (n=19). Both groups followed a reviewed 12-week low-calorie diet and received exercise training thrice weekly. Besides body mass index (BMI) and abdominal circumference (AC), NAFLD patients’ serum alanine transaminase enzyme (ALTE), alkaline phosphatase enzyme (ALPE), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), aspartate transaminase enzyme (ASTE), triglycerides (TGs), and gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase enzyme (GGTE) were assessed before and after 12 weeks.

Results: Significant improvements in all outcomes occurred after finishing both training forms. The pyramidal aerobic form produced more significant and pronounced improvements in the tested outcomes compared to the other form of exercise, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise.

Conclusion: Both training forms, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or pyramidal training, significantly improved NAFLD patients’ ALTE, BMI, ASTE, HDL, GGTE, AC, ALPE, and TGs, but the pyramidal form of exercise is more efficient than the continuous moderate-intensity form. © (2025), (SINAPS LLC). All rights reserved.