Exercise dose on hepatic fat and cardiovascular health in adolescents with excess of adiposity

Katherine González-Ruíz, Jorge Enrique Correa-Bautista, Mikel Izquierdo, Antonio García-Hermoso, Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno, Felipe Lobelo, Emilio González-Jiménez, Jacqueline Schmidt-RioValle, María Correa-Rodríguez, Joaquín Fernández-Irigoyen, Sara Palomino-Echeverría, Enrique Santamaría, Robinson Ramírez-Vélez

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9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: The HEPAFIT study was aimed at examining the impact of a 6-month physical education intervention, considering various levels of exercise intensity, on hepatic fat and cardiometabolic health outcomes in adolescents with excess adiposity. Methods: Adolescents (n = 120), 11–17 years with excess adiposity by body fat >30%, were randomly assigned to one of the following 4 groups for 6 months: (1) standard physical education lessons, control (CTRL); (2) high-intensity physical education (HIPE); (3) low-to-moderate intensity physical education (LIPE) and (4) combined HIPE and LIPE (PLUS). The primary outcome was hepatic fat content measured by vibration-controlled transient elastography (controlled attenuation parameter [CAP]). Secondary outcomes were traditional cardiovascular health markers (body composition, serum lipids, aminotransferases and health-related physical fitness components). Results: Adjusted mixed effects linear models revealed a significant decrease in CAP levels in HIPE (−20.02 dB/m, p < 0.0001) (p = 0.001 vs. CTRL group) and PLUS (−16.25 dB/m, p = 0.005) groups. Body fat decreased in the HIPE (−2.88%, p < 0.001) (p = 0.001 vs. CTRL group) and LIPE (−1.26%, p = 0.022) groups. The physical fitness components were increased in the HIPE and PLUS group relative to the baseline (p < 0.05), and the HIPE group showed a reduction in the total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Implementation of a 6-month physical education exercise program, particularly high-intensity or combined high and low-intensity, improves hepatic fat storage and significantly reduces cardiometabolic markers in adolescents with excess of adiposity. Interventions involving supervised physical exercise may help to improve metabolism and fat deposition at the hepatic level, thus preventing the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in adolescents.

Translated title of the contributionDosis de ejercicio sobre la grasa hepática y la salud cardiovascular en adolescentes con exceso de adiposidad
Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere12869
JournalPediatric obesity
Volume17
Issue number4
DOIs
StateE-pub ahead of print - Nov 4 2021

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Health Policy
  • Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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