Whole‐body vibration for patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a 6‐month prospective study

Physical exercise has demonstrated benefits for managing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, in daily life maintaining exercise without help may be difficult. A whole‐body vibration device (WBV) has been recently introduced as an exercise modality that may be suitable for patients who have difficulty engaging in exercise. We tested WBV in patients with NAFLD and estimated its effectiveness. We studied the effects of a 6‐month WBV program on hepatic steatosis and its underlying pathophysiology in 25 patients with NAFLD. Seventeen patients with NAFLD were designated as a control group. After WBV exercise, body weight in the study group decreased by only 2.5% compared with the control group. However, we found significant increases in muscle area (+2.6%) and strength (+20.5%) and decreases in fat mass (−6.8%). The hepatic (−9.9%) and visceral (−6.2%) fat content also significantly decreased (P < 0.05). There was substantial lowering of hepatic stiffness (−15.7%), along with improvements in the levels of inflammatory markers; tumor necrosis factor alpha (−50.9%), adiponectin (+12.0%), ferritin (−33.2%), and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (−43.0%) (P < 0.05). These results suggest that WBV is an exercise option for patients with NAFLD that is effective, efficient, and convenient

Survey of Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Japanese Patients with Non-Obese Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

The incidence of non-obese non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by the presence of a fatty liver in individuals with a normal body mass index, is on the rise globally. Effective management strategies, including lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise therapy, are urgently needed to address this growing public health concern. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between non-obese NAFLD, dietary habits, and physical activity levels. By elucidating these relationships, this research may contribute to the development of evidence-based recommendations for the management of non-obese NAFLD. The study had a single-center retrospective cross-sectional design and compared clinical data and dietary and physical activity habits between patients with and without non-obese NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was utilized to investigate the relationship between food intake frequency and the development of NAFLD. Among the 455 patients who visited the clinic during the study period, 169 were selected for analysis, including 74 with non-obese NAFLD and 95 without NAFLD. The non-obese NAFLD group showed a less-frequent consumption of fish and fish products as well as olive oil and canola/rapeseed oil, while they showed more frequent consumption of pastries and cake, snack foods and fried sweets, candy and caramels, salty foods, and pickles compared to the non-NAFLD group. Logistic regression analysis revealed that NAFLD was significantly associated with the consumption of fish, fish products, and pickles at least four times a week. The physical activity level was lower and the exercise frequency was lower in patients with non-obese NAFLD compared to those without NAFLD. The results of this study suggest that a low consumption of fish and fish products and high consumption of pickles may be associated with a higher risk of non-obese NAFLD. Moreover, dietary habits and physical activity status should be taken into consideration for the management of patients with non-obese NAFLD. It is important to develop effective management strategies, such as dietary and exercise interventions, to prevent and treat NAFLD in this patient population

Relationships of Dietary Habits and Physical Activity Status with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Featuring Advanced Fibrosis

(1) Aim: Hepatic fibrosis is a prognostic factor for disease progression in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to determine the relationships between diet, physical activity, and the progression of liver fibrosis. (2) Methods: The 349 participants were categorized by their FibroScan-aspartate aminotransferase score, and they completed a questionnaire regarding their diet and physical activity. (3) Results: There were 233 patients in the negative-on-screening group, 78 in the gray zone group, and 38 in the positive-on-screening group. The frequencies of consumption of soybeans and soybean products and of light-colored vegetables were lower in the positive group; whereas the frequencies of consumption of snack food and fried sweets, jelly and pudding, fried food, and butter, lard, and beef tallow were higher. The odds ratios for the fibrosis progression in patients who consumed fried food ≥4 times/week was 2.21. The positive group also showed lower physical activity level (PAL) and exercise (Ex, metabolic equivalents for tasks (METs)/hour/week). The patients who undertook Ex at &gt;7.5 had an odds ratio of 0.21 for the fibrosis progression. (4) Conclusion: High consumption of fried food and low Ex are risk factors for the fibrosis progression in NAFLD