Effect of combined resistance and interval training intensity on Irisin level and muscular and aerobic fitness of female with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under (CC BY-NC 4.0) license

Authors

1 Department of Physical Education, Technical and Vocational University (TVU), Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Exercise Physiology

3 Dep. Exercise Physiology, University of Guilan

4 Department of Medical Sciences, Sha.C., Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran

Abstract

Background& purpose: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs due to excessive deposition of fat inside the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, which can lead to simple steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis. It seems that physical activities are effective in improving fatty liver through the stimulation of myokines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of combined exercises with two intensity modeles on irisin and physical fitness factors in women with fatty liver. Methods: 33 women with NAFLD (age: 43.45±3.75 years) and (body mass index [BMI] 32.84±1.33 kg/m2) were randomly divided into three equal groups: combined interval with moderate intensity aerobic and resistance trainings [MIIA+RT], combined intense interval and resistance trainings [HIIT+RT] and control [CON]. The training program was carried out 3 times a week for 12 weeks. The variables were measured before and after the exercise training program. Data analysis was performed with repeated measure ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test at a significant level (p<0.05). Results: The findings showed that both HIIT+R and MIIA+R training programs significantly increased irisin (p=0.001; p=0.023), aerobic power (p=0.001; p=0.01), upper (p=0.002; p=0.002) and lower (p=0.01; p=0.03) body maximum strength and endurance (p=0.036; p=0.02) and (p=0.001; p=0.002), but there was no significant change in weight (p=0.061; p=0.052) and BMI (p=0.11; p=0.054). Conclusion: It seems that women with NAFLD can probably use both intensities of combined exercise as a non-pharmacological intervention to improve non-alcoholic fatty liver and physical fitness independent of body weight loss

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Journal of Applied Health Studies in Sport Physiology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 14 December 2025

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History

  • Receive Date: 15 April 2025
  • Revise Date: 06 December 2025
  • Accept Date: 12 December 2025

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