Insulin resistance is associated with the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Insulin resistance is regulated by various cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), a proinflammatory myokine, and selenoprotein P (SeP), a liver-derived secretory hepatokine. High levels of IL-6 and/or SeP have been shown to contribute to insulin resistance, and exercise is a first-line therapy for NAFLD. We have developed a hybrid training system (HTS): a neuromuscular electrical stimulation device to enhance exercise results. We aimed to investigate the effects of HTS on insulin resistance as well as serum IL-6 and SeP in patients with NAFLD. This is a randomized, single-blind (assessor), controlled trial. Subjects with NAFLD walked on a treadmill with or without HTS (9 subjects each) for 30 minutes three times a week for six weeks (HTS versus control group; median age 45 versus 45; male/female 5/4 versus 6/3). We examined subjects before the first session and at the end of the final session. Serum SeP levels were measured by ELISA which measures the fragment of SeP. In the HTS group, HOMA-IR values were significantly reduced compared to the control group (delta -0.71 versus delta 0.05; p < 0.05). IL-6 and SeP levels in serum were also significantly reduced compared to that of the control group (IL-6 delta -0.6 versus delta 0.29 pg/mL, p < 0.05; SeP delta -1,288.5 versus delta -435.4 ng/mL, p < 0.05, respectively). In conclusion, we propose that HTS improves insulin resistance by reducing serum IL-6 and SeP levels in patients with NAFLD.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher