Effect of High-intensity Interval Training and Loquat Leaf Extract Consumption on Liver Enzymes in Obese Men With Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Objective: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver disease. This study aims to evaluate the effect of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Loquat Leaf Extract (LLE) consumption on liver enzymes in obese men with NAFLD. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 40 men with NAFLD (BMI: 33.92±1.82 kg/m2) participated and randomly divided into four groups: HIIT (n= 10), LLE (n= 10), LLE+HIIT (n= 10) and control (n= 10). Exercises were performed for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week, each for 60 minutes with an intensity between 80-95% of heart rate reserve. Two capsules of 250 mg LLE was administrated daily for 8 weeks. Serum levels of Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) were measured before and 48 hours after the intervention. Results: The results of paired t-test showed that the post-test serum levels of ALT, AST and ALP in the LLE+HIIT (P=0.01, 0.01, 0.01) and HIIT groups decreased significantly (P=0.02, 0.01, 0.001). These changes were not significant in the control and LLE groups (P≥0.05). The results of Tukey’s test showed that serum levels of ALT, AST and ALP in the LLE+HIIT and HIIT groups had the highest significant decrease (P=0.001) compared to the control group, while ALT and ALP serum levels in the LLE+HIIT group compared to the LLE group (P=0.03) and in the HIIT group compared to the control group (P=0.02) had the lowest decrease after eight weeks of intervention. Conclusion: It seems that consumption of LLE along with high- HIIT leads to a decrease in the level of liver enzymes in men with NAFLD. It is recommended that patients with NAFLD use this technique to improve their liver conditions.