The effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with ginger supplement on liver enzymes in women with NAFLD

Abstract

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is known to be a pathogenic factor in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Circulating liver enzymes such as spartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) increase in NAFLD patients. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of eight weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with ginger supplement on liver enzymes in women with NAFLD. Methods: In this study, 80 women with NAFLD were divided into four groups: 1. HIIT, 2. HIIT + ginger supplement, 3. ginger supplement and 4. control group. Blood sampling was performed before the training protocol (before eight weeks of training) and 24 hours after the last training session. Serum liver enzymes levels were measured. The subjects in the HIIT and the HIIT + ginger supplement groups exercised with ginger supplement for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week, and 1 hour per session. The subjects in the HIIT + ginger supplement and the ginger supplement groups received 1g of ginger daily. The control group did not exercise and did not receive ginger supplement. They only consumed placebo. Results: The results showed that in the HIIT and the HIIT + supplement groups, the levels of ALT and AST in patients with NAFLD were significantly reduced (p<0.01). But the level of GGT did not change significantly. Also, the data showed that there was a significant reduction in body composition, fat percentage, and body weight in the HIIT group + supplementation (p<0.01) and the HIIT group without ginger supplementation (p<0.05). Conclusion: High-intensity interval training with ginger increases body composition, body fat percentage, body weight and liver enzymes (AST, ALT) compared to the HIIT without ginger in women with NAFLD.