Effect of baduanjin exercise on liver enzymes in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients

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. The aim of the work: 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. Keywords: Baduanjin exercise; Caloric restriction; Liver enzymes; Triglycerides; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.