Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) prevention: role of Mediterranean diet and physical activity

Together with diet, physical activity is suggested in NAFLD prevention and treatment, data from literature reported that physical activity influences hepatic metabolism and is inversely associated with the onset of NAFLD and NASH (1). Exercise training induces significant improvement of hepatic and visceral fat accumulation, increased lipid oxidation and insulin sensitivity (13). Decreased hepatic fat content, adipose tissue and insulin resistance have been showed at similar extent with both aerobic and anaerobic resistance training (14). Unfortunately, it has not yet been established the optimal type, duration, and intensity of exercise training for patients with NAFLD so that clinical studies are needed to focus which are the best conditions of physical activity in order to obtain the best results in prevention of NAFLD (15). Even if a large number of studies support the efficacy of both diet-based approaches and physical activity for NAFLD prevention, further future investigations are needed to confirm scientific data and to explore the possible molecular mechanisms underlying the association between NAFLD, diet and physical activity.