Premium
Physical activity levels and hepatic steatosis: A longitudinal follow‐up study in adults
Author(s) -
Gerage Aline Mendes,
RittiDias Raphael Mendes,
Balagopal P Babu,
Conceição Raquel Dilguerian de Oliveira,
Umpierre Daniel,
Santos Raul D,
Cucato Gabriel Grizzo,
Bittencourt Márcio Sommer
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/jgh.13965
Subject(s) - medicine , steatosis , body mass index , odds ratio , physical activity , multivariate analysis , gastroenterology , physical therapy
Background and Aim This study aimed to evaluate the impact of physical activity (PA) on the course of hepatic steatosis (HS) in adults. Methods Hepatic steatosis status (ultrasonography) and PA levels were evaluated in 5860 subjects at baseline and after approximately 2.5 years (range: 19–50 months). At follow up, possible exposures to different PA levels were those who remained inactive, became inactive, became active, and remained active. After follow up, subjects were then classified according to the four possible states (outcomes): “remained without HS,” “developed HS” (subjects without HS at baseline), “remained with HS,” or “reverted HS.” Results After multivariate adjustments, individuals without HS that became or remained physically active were less likely to develop HS compared with those who remained physically inactive (odds ratio = 0.75, P = 0.04 and 0.75, P = 0.03, respectively). Among those with HS at baseline, becoming and remaining physically active beneficially improved the HS status (odds ratio = 0.64, P = 0.01 and 0.66, P = 0.01, respectively). However, the significance was lost when adjusted for changes in body mass index. Conclusion Higher levels of PA were associated with prevention and treatment of HS, with evidence of effect mediation by changes in body mass index.