Effects of home-based exercise and branched-chain amino acid supplementation on aerobic capacity and glycemic control in patients with cirrhosis

AimThe aim of the current study is to examine whether home-based step exercise at anaerobic threshold (AT) and branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation improve aerobic capacity, ectopic fat in liver and muscle, and glycemic control in patients with liver cirrhosis. MethodsSix female patients with compensated liver cirrhosis received oral BCAA and were instructed to undertake bench step exercises at an intensity that corresponded to AT, with a goal of performing 140min of exercise per week at home for 12months. Fat deposition in liver (liver to spleen ratio) and intramuscular adipose tissue content were assessed at baseline and after 6 and 12months by computed tomography. Glycemic control indices (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, hemoglobin A(1c) [HbA(1c)], glycated albumin [GA] and chronic liver disease [CLD]-HbA(1c) [average of HbA(1c) and GA/3]) were also measured. ResultsTwelve months of moderate training significantly increased AT, which is an index of aerobic capacity, but no changes were observed in body weight, liver to spleen ratio, or intramuscular adipose tissue content. Glycated albumin significantly decreased (P<0.05) and there tended to be a similar decrease in CLD-HbA(1c) (P<0.1) after the exercise. The baseline serum triglyceride level correlated with changes in GA (P<0.01) and CLD-HbA(1c) (P<0.1). ConclusionThe current results suggest that the combination of home-based step exercise at AT and BCAA supplementation enhances aerobic capacity and potentially improves glycemic control in patients with cirrhosis without changes in body weight. The baseline serum serum triglyceride may partially explain the degree of improvement in glycemic control with exercise and BCAA intervention.