Weight loss and exercise improve liver disease

February 16, 2004

Last Updated: 2004-02-13 16:25:51 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - For people with chronic liver disease,

losing weight and getting more exercise helps their liver function

better and improves their quality of life, new research shows.

The findings, which are reported in the medical journal Gut, are based

on a study of 31 overweight patients with liver disease who completed a

15-month weight loss and exercise program. Eighteen patients had

hepatitis C and 13 had other types of chronic liver disease.

The program included regular meetings with a dietitian and 2.5 hours of

aerobic exercise each week.

During the study period, 21 patients successfully dropped a few pounds

and kept the weight off. On average, patients lost about 9 percent of

their body weight, Dr. E. , from Princess andra Hospital in

Brisbane, Australia, and colleagues note.

The amount of weight loss matched the degree of improvement in liver

enzyme levels, a measure of how well the liver is functioning. However,

maintaining weight loss was critical, as these enzyme levels rose again

in 10 patients who were unable to keep the weight off.

Weight loss also had a beneficial effect on fasting serum insulin

levels. Once again, this effect disappeared in subjects who regained

their weight, the authors report.

Successful weight loss was linked to significant improvements in both

physical and mental components of quality of life, the researchers

report.

" This study demonstrates that investment in weight reduction has the

ability to reduce risk factors associated with progression of liver

disease, " the authors note. " These results suggest that treatment of

overweight patients should form an important component of management of

those with chronic liver disease. "

SOURCE: Gut, February 2004.

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