Physical Activity and Hepatic Steatosis

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the relationship between selfreported physical activity level and hepatic steatosis index non-invasively measured in patients with hepatic steatosis. We conducted a cross-sectional study that evaluated a number of 104 people, 60 with hepatic steatosis (HS group) and 44 healthy individuals (control group CG). In these patients we analyzed anthropometric parameters (height, weight, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, ratio waist hip), biochemical parameters (fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase), adipocytokines (adiponectin, leptin, resistin) and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF alpha, IL-6). IR was determined using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Hepatic steatosis (HS) was evaluated by ultrasound and also using a mathematical algorithm (hepatic steatosis index - HSI). Physical activity level (min/week) was self-reported, physical activity less than 100 minutes per week was considered sedentary. The overall model fit was R^2 = 0.14. Sedentary individuals with or without steatosis have an increased index of fatty liver. Sedentary individuals associate also an increased pro-inflammatory status and a higher degree of insulin resistance.