Diet and Exercise Can Reverse Liver Damage: New Study Findings

New research reveals that an intensive lifestyle approach combining diet and exercise can significantly improve liver health for individuals with liver disease.

Improving Liver Health with Lifestyle Changes

The study focused on 24 patients suffering from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a common liver disease caused by excess fat accumulation in the liver. One group of patients followed a strict diet and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise program for 10 months. These patients showed remarkable improvements in liver health when compared to the control group, which received standard medical care.

Key Findings:
The patients who focused on both diet and exercise lost between 13-22 pounds and gained muscle mass. This contrasted sharply with the control group, where weight loss ranged from just 0-9 pounds. Beyond weight loss, the treatment group also saw improvements in cardiovascular health, insulin sensitivity (how well the body uses glucose for energy), and overall liver function.

How Does Lifestyle Impact Liver Disease?

Diet and exercise have long been considered essential for managing liver disease. However, this study was the first to investigate their combined impact on liver health and confirm these improvements using advanced imaging and biopsy techniques. These tools allowed researchers to measure changes in liver inflammation, fat levels, and fibrosis (the development of scar tissue in the liver).

Study author Elizabeth Parks, a professor at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, noted, “Previous studies only looked at the effects of diet or exercise, but our research used cutting-edge imaging to show how powerful the combination of both can be.”

Obesity and Liver Disease: A Worrying Link

MASH is often linked to obesity and related conditions like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Parks highlighted that the rising rates of obesity and diabetes in the U.S. are contributing to the increase in fatty liver disease. The good news? This research demonstrates that lifestyle changes can not only treat these conditions but potentially reverse liver damage and prevent future liver issues.

Parks emphasized, “Our study shows that liver disease doesn’t have to be a chronic, progressive condition. With the right interventions, we can turn things around.”

Looking Ahead

While more research is needed to fully understand the long-term benefits, this study brings hope that lifestyle changes, particularly a combination of a balanced diet and exercise, can significantly improve liver health. These findings could reshape how liver disease is treated in the future.

The full study can be found in the Journal of Hepatology, and it’s a promising step forward in understanding how lifestyle changes can impact liver disease recovery.

Sources: University of Missouri