Associations of lower values of peak oxygen uptake and handgrip strength with a smaller liver volume

Background and aims: The associations between physical fitness markers and liver volume in the general population are unclear. We investigated the associations of peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak)and handgrip strength with liver volume in a general population sample. Methods and results: Data were taken from 1,531 German adults (51.3% women), aged 20 to 88 years, from two cohorts of the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-START-2 and SHIP-TREND-0). We analysed cross-sectional associations of VO2peak and handgrip strength with liver volume derived from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by using multivariable linear regression models. These models were adjusted for age, sex, body fat mass, pre-existing type 2 diabetes, daily alcohol consumption, smoking status, and use of hypoglycaemic or antihypertensive medications. We observed significant associations of lower VO2peak and handgrip strength with a smaller liver volume in the whole population, as well as in both men and women. In the whole population, a 1 L/min lower VO2peak was associated with a 0.15 cm3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.11 to 0.19; P < 0.0001) smaller liver volume for both sexes together. Similarly, a 1 kg lower handgrip strength was associated with a 7.05 cm3 (95% CI: 4.87 to 9.23; P < 0.001) smaller liver volume in the whole population. Conclusion: Our results derived from a large community-based sample showed that lower values of VO2peak and handgrip strength were associated with a smaller liver volume. These results might explain the possible negative effects of sedentary lifestyle on liver volume - the sedentary liver.