Supplementary information files for "Greater hepatic lipid saturation is associated with impaired glycaemic regulation in men with MASLD but is not altered by six weeks of exercise training

Supplementary files for article "Greater hepatic lipid saturation is associated with impaired glycaemic regulation in men with MASLD but is not altered by six weeks of exercise training"<b>Aims</b> To examine the impact of impaired glycaemic regulation and exercise training on hepatic lipid composition in men with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).<b>Materials and methods</b> In Part A (cross-sectional design), 40 men with MASLD (liver proton density fat fraction [PDFF]≥5.56%) were recruited to one-of-two groups: 1) normal glycaemic regulation (NGR; HbA1c&lt;42 mmol∙mol-1 [&lt;6.0%]; n=14); 2) impaired glycaemic regulation (IGR; HbA1c≥42 mmol∙mol-1 [≥6.0%]; n=26). In Part B (RCT design), the IGR group were randomised to one-of-two six-week interventions: 1) exercise training (EX; 70-75% max heart rate; four sessions/week; n=13); 2) non-exercise control (CON; n=13). Saturated (SI; primary outcome), unsaturated (UI), and polyunsaturated (PUI) hepatic lipid indices were determined using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Additional secondary outcomes included liver PDFF, HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), V̇O2 peak, and plasma cytokeratin 18 (CK18) M65, among others.<b>Results</b> In Part A, hepatic SI was higher and hepatic UI was lower in the IGR vs. NGR group (P=0.038), and this hepatic lipid profile was associated with higher HbA1c, FPG, HOMA-IR and plasma CK18 M65 (rs≥0.320). In Part B, hepatic lipid composition and liver PDFF were unchanged after EX vs. CON (P≥0.257), while FPG was reduced and V̇O2 peak was increased (P≤0.030). ΔV̇O2 peak was inversely associated with Δhepatic SI (r=-0.433) and positively associated with Δhepatic UI and Δhepatic PUI (r≥0.433).<b>Conclusions</b> IGR in MASLD is characterised by greater hepatic lipid saturation, however, this composition is not altered by six-weeks of moderate-intensity exercise training. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04004273<br><br>©The Authors, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0