درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Purpose: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common liver disorder associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance. It is often characterized by elevated liver enzymes, such as AST, ALT, and ALP, which are biomarkers of liver injury. Exercise, particularly high-intensity interval training (HIIT), has been shown to improve liver function by reducing these enzyme levels. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 6-week HIIT protocol on liver enzyme levels (AST, ALT, and ALP) in obese individuals with NAFLD. Method: This quasi-experimental study involved 20 obese participants diagnosed with NAFLD. They were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=10) and a control group (n=10). The experimental group participated in a HIIT protocol for 6 weeks, while the control group maintained their usual lifestyle. Blood samples were taken before and after the intervention to measure serum AST, ALT, and ALP levels. Data analysis was conducted using paired t-tests and independent t-tests to compare pre- and post-intervention values within and between groups, respectively. Results: The experimental group showed a significant reduction in AST (p = 0.01), ALT (p = 0.03), and ALP (p = 0.04) after the intervention. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in the control group for any of the enzymes (p > 0.05). Between-group comparisons revealed significant differences in enzyme levels post-intervention (p = 0.03 for AST, p = 0.04 for ALT, and p = 0.05 for ALP). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that HIIT may be an effective non-pharmacological intervention for improving liver function in obese individuals with NAFLD. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm the long-term effects of exercise on liver enzymes in this population.