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Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by abnormal fat metabolism in the liver due to nonalcoholic causes. Adropin is a peptide hormone with an essential role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis. Methods: 42 male rats were divided into 2 groups, each group was subdivided into 3 subgroups: group Ia: control 4 weeks; group Ib: high fat diet (HFD) 4 weeks, group Ic: HFD 4 weeks +exercise; group IIa: control 12 weeks, group IIb: HFD 12 weeks; and group IIc: HFD 12 weeks + exercise. Serum Adropin, glucose, HOMA-IR, insulin, lipid profile, ALT, AST, TNFα, IL6, hepatic ROS, MDA, and SOD were measured. Histopathological examination, immunohistochemical study, and Mallory's trichrome staining of the liver were performed. Results: significant increases in insulin resistance, lipid profile parameters, ALT, AST, TNFα, IL6, hepatic ROS, MDA, and a decrease in SOD were found in HFD groups. Histopathological examination revealed steatosis in group Ib and steatohepatitis in group IIb. These changes were associated with a decrease in serum adropin levels. Exercise in groups Ic and IIc improved these changes with a significant increase in adropin level. Conclusion: HFD induced functional and structural deterioration in the liver, leading to NAFLD with a significant decrease in serum adropin level. Exercise induced a significant increase in serum adropin, which may have a role in the remission of hepatic inflammation, steatosis, and steatohepatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]