Abstract
Background: Recent studies suggested that Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) patients may suffer from insulin resistance (IR), lipid profile abnormalities and poor virological response to the antiviral treatment. The beneficial effects of aerobic exercise have been a matter of controversy in the field of HCV management.
Objective: This study aimed to measure the impact of aerobic exercise training on insulin resistance, lipid profile abnormalities and virological response in type 2 diabetic patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Materials and Methods: Eighty non-hypertensive, non-cirrhotic chronic HCV infection Saudi patients with high Triglycerides (TG), Total cholesterol (TC) and Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-c) & non-insulin dependent diabetic with insulin resistance. Patients were divided in to two equal groups. The first group received aerobic exercise training, three sessions per week for three months in addition to their antiviral treatment. The second group (B) received only their antiviral treatment.
Results: The mean values of Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance-index (HOMA-IR), TC, LDL-c, TG, virologic response and Body Mass Index (BMI) were significantly decreased in group (A), where the mean value of High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-c) was significantly increased, while there were no significant changes in group (B) Also; there was a significant difference between both groups at the end of the study.
Conclusion: Treadmill walking exercise training is an effective treatment policy to improve insulin resistance, lipid profile abnormalities and virological response in type 2 diabetic patients with chronic hepatitis C.