Liver enzymes and psychological well-being response to aerobic exercise training in patients with chronic hepatitis C

SMA El-Kader, OH Al-Jiffri, FM Al-Shreef

Abstract

Background: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a medical condition that has broad implications for a person’s physical and psychological health.
Objective: The aim of this study was to detect changes in liver enzymes and psychological well-being in response to aerobic exercise training in patients with CHC.
Material and Methods: Fifty CHC patients were included in two equal  groups. The first group (A) received aerobic exercise training in addition to their regular medical treatment. The second group (B) received no training and only has their regular medical treatment. The program consisted of three sessions per week for three months.
Results: There was a significant decrease in mean values of Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate  Aminotransferase (AST), Gamma – Glutamyltransferase (GGT) , Beck  Depression Inventory (BDI ) & Profile of Mood States(POMS) and increase in Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) in group (A) after treatments, but the changes in group (B) were not significant. Also, there were significant differences between mean levels of the investigated parameters in group (A) and group (B) at the end of the study.
Conclusion: Aerobic exercise training improves hepatic enzymes and psychological well-being in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Key words: liver enzymes; psychological well-being; aerobic exercise; chronic hepatitis C.