Background: This study aimed to examine the influence of a low-volume interval exercise program on non-alcoholic fatty liver indicators in sedentary adults with T2DM.
Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 72 sedentary patients with T2DM (age 40–65 years) were allocated into an intervention group (n = 36) and a control group (n = 36). The intervention group completed a four-week low-volume interval exercise program, consisting of three weekly sessions incorporating short high-intensity intervals interspersed with low-intensity recovery. Anthropometrics, fasting glucose, lipid profile, liver enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT), and NAFLD indicators—particularly the Fatty Liver Index (FLI)—were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. The control group received no structured exercise. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, and a significance level of p < 0.05.
Results: Following the intervention, the exercise group demonstrated significant reductions in FLI values (p < 0.001), ALT (p = 0.01), GGT (p = 0.02), triglycerides (p < 0.001), and body mass index (p < 0.001). Fasting blood glucose also decreased significantly (p < 0.01). No comparable improvements were observed in the control group. Between-group comparisons confirmed that the intervention group achieved superior improvements across all liver-related biomarkers (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: A short-term, low-volume interval exercise program effectively improves hepatic indicators in sedentary adults with T2DM. These findings support the integration of time-efficient interval exercise into clinical management strategies as a non-pharmacological approach to mitigating NAFLD progression in diabetic populations.