How can non-alcoholic fatty liver disease be prevented?

Moderate to high-intensity exercise is a good way to prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which can lead to inflammation, cirrhosis, and liver failure, Japanese scientists noted.

The results of their research were published in the journal JHEP Reports.

According to EurekAlert !, the study authors analyzed data from obese patients who followed a three-month exercise and weight loss diet regimen. Scientists monitored liver health, body fat volume, increased muscle strength, decreased inflammation and oxidative stress, and oxidative stress markers.

As it turned out, exercise, in addition to a weight loss regimen, reduced steatosis (the initial stage of fatty liver disease) by 9.5%, liver stiffness by 6.8%, and fibrosis by 16.4%.

Exercise also had another positive effect - it altered the concentrations of specific organokines and, apparently, induced anti-inflammatory and antioxidant responses in response to stress by activating Nrf2 (a gene transcription factor).