Effect of Baduanjin Exercise on Liver Enzymes in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients

Elmradny, Diaa Elden Mohammed; Ezzat Obaya, Hany; Kelany, Yasser Fouad; Ismail, Ali Mohamed Ali

doi:10.21608/ijma.2024.322876.2041

Effect of Baduanjin Exercise on Liver Enzymes in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Physical Therapy for Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Alsalam University, Kafr Elzayat, Gharbia, Egypt.

² Department of Physical Therapy for Cardiovascular/Respiratory Disorder and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

³ Department of Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.

10.21608/ijma.2024.322876.2041

Abstract

Background: Baduanjin exercise [BE] is an old Chinese mind-body training that was originally used in China approximately 1,000 years ago. It has been used in the treatment of cardiovascular risk indicators, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD], which is mainly treated by exercise with or without caloric restriction.
Aim of the study: The aim was to examine the effects of adding BE to the caloric restriction programme on liver enzymes in patients with NAFLD.
Patients and Methods: From both sexes, sixty patients with NAFLD participated in this study. They were aged between 50 and 60 years old and had a body mass index [BMI] ranging from 30 to 34.9 kg/m². Patients were randomly assigned into two groups; Study and control groups. The study group [n=30] received a 40-minute Baduanjin exercise daily plus a hypocaloric diet. The control group [n=30] received the hypocaloric diet alone. The patients' BMI, serum triglycerides [TG], waist circumference [WC], liver enzymes comprising alanine transaminase [ALT] and aspartate transaminase [AST], six-minute walk test [6MWT], and The Short Form 36 health survey [SF36] [physical and mental summaries] were assessed in both groups two times pre-study and after eight weeks at the end of the study.
Results: A significant improvement in BMI, TG, WC, ALT, AST, 6MWT, and SF36 [physical and mental summaries] was documented within both groups, but the better level of improvement was detected in the study group but with a significant improvement in favor of study group.
Conclusion: This trial suggests that adding 8-week BE to caloric restriction programme played an important role in improving weight loss, abdominal obesity, liver enzymes, physical capacity, triglycerides, and quality of life in NAFLD patients.

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