Sarcopenic obesity and dyslipidemia response to selective exercise program after liver transplantation

Abstract

Background: As long-term survival improves after liver transplantation, metabolic syndrome, including dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and sarcopenia is emerging as a major cause of late morbidity and mortality.
Aim: The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of exercise training program as a type of physical therapy approach in treatment of sarcopenic obesity and dyslipidemia after liver transplantation.
Subjects and methods: Thirty patients with liver transplantation since six months had participated in this study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of equal numbers. The exercise group received aerobic and resisted exercise in addition to receive the traditional medical intervention. The control group received only the traditional medical intervention. Measurements of fat mass, muscle mass, cholesterol level and triglycerides level (by bioelectrical impedance and lipid profile) were collected before treatment and after three months of treatment.
Results: Comparison between exercise and control groups post treatment revealed a significant decrease in fat mass, cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the exercise group compared to the control group (p<0.001), while there was a significant increase in muscle mass in the exercise group compaired to control group (p=0.0001).
Conclusion: Aerobic and resisted exercise has a positive effect in treatment of sarcopenic obesity and dyslipidemia (reducing fat mass, cholesterol and triglycerides levels while increasing muscle mass) post liver transplantation.

KEYWORDS: Liver transplantation; Sarcopenic obesity; Dyslipidemia; Aerobic exercise; Resisted exercise