Mechanisms underpinning the effect of exercise on the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

review

Authors

  • Mohamed Bekheit Department of Surgery, NHS Grampian, Foresterhill Health Campus, Ashgrove Road, AB252ZN Aberdeen, UK; E-mail: Mohamed.bekheit@nhs.scot https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2126-4174
  • Blessed Kamera Department of Surgery, NHS Grampian, Foresterhill Health Campus, Ashgrove Road, AB252ZN Aberdeen, UK; Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical School, Foresterhill Health Campus, Ashgrove Road, AB252ZN Aberdeen, UK https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6702-5523
  • Laura Colacino Department of Surgery, NHS Grampian, Foresterhill Health Campus, Ashgrove Road, AB252ZN Aberdeen, UK; Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical School, Foresterhill Health Campus, Ashgrove Road, AB252ZN Aberdeen, UK
  • Anne Dropmann Molecular Hepatology Section, Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9633-9097
  • Mirela Delibegovic Department of Surgery, NHS Grampian, Foresterhill Health Campus, Ashgrove Road, AB252ZN Aberdeen, UK; Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical School, Foresterhill Health Campus, Ashgrove Road, AB252ZN Aberdeen, UK https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6193-3152
  • Fatema Almadhoob St. Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Prescot, Prescot, UK https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3568-9797
  • Nemany Hanafy Group of Bionanotechnology and Molecular Cell Biology, Nanomedicine Department, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Kafrelsheikh University, 33516 Kafrelsheikh, Egypt https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5861-6973
  • Giovanna Bermano Centre for Obesity Research and Education (CORE), School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Sir Ian Wood Building, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen AB10 7GJ, UK https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6027-6437
  • Seddik Hammad Molecular Hepatology Section, Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany. E-mail: seddik.hammad@medma.uni-heidelberg.de https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4067-8492

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2024-7718

Keywords:

non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic liver disease, exercise, lifestyle

Abstract

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) – whose terminology was recently replaced by metabolic liver disease (MAFLD) - is an accumulation of triglycerides in the liver of >5 % of its weight. Epidemiological studies indicated an association between NAFLD and reduced physical activity. In addition, exercise has been shown to improve NAFLD independently of weight loss. In this paper, we aim to systematically review molecular changes in sedentary experimental NAFLD models vs. those subjected to exercise. We utilized the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist and standard review techniques. Studies were considered for inclusion if they addressed the primary question: the mechanisms by which exercise influenced NAFLD. This review summarized experimental evidence of improvements in NAFLD with exercise in the absence of weight loss. The pathways involved appeared to have AMPK as a common denominator.

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Published

2025-02-11

How to Cite

Bekheit, M., Kamera, B., Colacino, L., Dropmann, A., Delibegovic, M., Almadhoob, F., … Hammad, S. (2025). Mechanisms underpinning the effect of exercise on the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: review. EXCLI Journal, 24, 238–266. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2024-7718

Issue

Vol. 24 (2025)

Section

Review articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Mohamed Bekheit, Blessed Kamera, Laura Colacino, Anne Dropmann, Mirela Delibegovic, Fatema Almadhoob, Nemany Hanafy, Giovanna Bermano, Seddik Hammad

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