Effect of focused ultrasound cavitation augmented with aerobic exercise on abdominal and intrahepatic fat in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized controlled trial

Mona Mohamed Taha; Yasser M Aneis; Heba Mohamed Mohamady; Alrasheedy S A; Shereen Hamed Elsayed

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0250337

Effect of focused ultrasound cavitation augmented with aerobic exercise on abdominal and intrahepatic fat in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized controlled trial

PLoS One. 2021 Apr 28;16(4):e0250337. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250337. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Mona Mohamed Taha^{1

2}, Yasser M Aneis³, Heba Mohamed Mohamady⁴, Alrasheedy S A⁵, Shereen Hamed Elsayed^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rehabilitation, College Of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Cardiovascular/Respiratory Disorder and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
³ Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
⁴ Department of Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
⁵ Department of Internal Medicine, EL Sahel Teaching Hospital, Giza, Egypt.

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to examine the effect of focused ultrasound cavitation augmented with aerobic exercise on localized abdominal and intrahepatic fat in fatty liver patients.

Methods: 34 fatty liver patients aged 30-45 with a body mass index (BMI) of 30-40 kg/m2 were randomly assigned into two equally numbered groups. Group A received focused ultrasound cavitation and moderate aerobic exercise for three months, while Group B (control group) received moderate aerobic exercise only. Abdominal subcutaneous fat volume, visceral fat volume, liver-to-spleen ratio (L/S ratio), body weight, BMI, and waist circumference were measured both before and after the study period.

Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in subcutaneous fat volume, visceral fat volume, body weight, BMI, and waist circumference relative to baseline where (P < 0.001), with a higher percentage in group A. L/S ratio only showed a significant improvement in group A. Between-group differences were noteworthy regarding L/S ratio and waist circumference where (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion: While substantial risky measures in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease have been modified by aerobic exercise, its combination with focused ultrasound cavitation causes more notable effects on the reduction of abdominal and intrahepatic fat, making it a superior option.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04161703.

Publication types

Clinical Trial
Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Abdominal Fat / diagnostic imaging
Abdominal Fat / pathology
Abdominal Fat / surgery*
Adipose Tissue / diagnostic imaging
Adipose Tissue / pathology
Adipose Tissue / surgery*
Adult
Body Mass Index
Exercise / physiology*
Female
Humans
Lipectomy / methods*
Liver / diagnostic imaging
Liver / pathology
Liver / surgery*
Male
Middle Aged
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / diagnostic imaging
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / pathology
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / surgery*
Spleen / diagnostic imaging
Spleen / pathology
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Ultrasonic Therapy / methods*
Ultrasonic Waves
Waist Circumference

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT04161703

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University through the Fast-track Research Funding Program. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.