The Correlation between Type 2 Diabetes and Fat Fraction in Liver and Pancreas: A Study using MR Dixon Technique

Abstract

Objective. The increased obesity results in ectopic fat deposits in liver and pancreas, which will affect insulin resistance and elevated plasma glucose with type 2 diabetes. To assess the relationship between obesity and ectopic fat deposits and diabetes, this study used the MR Dixon method for the quantification of liver and pancreas fat fraction (FF) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and healthy controls. Methods. The FF of whole liver (FFWL) and pancreas (FFWP), the maximum diameters of the pancreas, the abdominal subcutaneous adipose area (SAT), the visceral adipose tissue area (VAT), and the total abdominal adipose tissue area (TAT) were measured for 157 subjects using the MR Dixon data. Four groups were established on the basis of BMI value. For statistics, intra- and intergroup comparisons were made by employing independent sample t-test. Results. FFWL, FFWP, and VAT varied significantly between T2DM (BMI < 25) and control group (BMI < 25), T2DM (BMI ≥ 25) and control group (BMI ≥ 25), T2DM (BMI < 25) and T2DM (BMI ≥ 25) (all P < 0.05 ). The FF of pancreas tail, SAT, and TAT varied significantly between control group (BMI < 25) and control group (BMI ≥ 25) ( P < 0.05 ). FFWP and the FF of pancreas tail varied significantly between T2DM and normal volunteers ( P < 0.05 ), with normal or mild liver fat content. Conclusion. The tissue FF, which has a close relationship with T2DM, can be assessed by the MR Dixon technique. T2DM patients should pay attention to tissue fat content regardless of BMI values.

Association between type 2 diabetes mellitus and body composition based on MRI fat fraction mapping

“…In the present study, we observed that the SAT area is not associated with T2DM, which is consistent with previous findings ( 9 ). Additionally, we observed that SAT FF in T2DM patients was lower than in non-T2DM patients.…”

“…Our findings were consistent with these results. However, it was found that HFF was not the independent risk factor for T2DM, which is consistent with the findings of Zheng et al ( 9 ). We speculate that hepatic fat deposition may not be an independent mechanism in the pathogenesis of T2DM, and its role may be influenced by VAT, which collectively play important modulatory roles in T2DM development.…”

“…So far, the evidence about the relationship between pancreatic fat accumulation and T2DM is not consistent. Some cross-sectional studies based on CT and MRI have indicated that compared with non-T2DM patients, T2DM patients have higher PFF ( 9 , 10 , 12 , 43 , 49 ). Our research has reached the similar conclusion.…”

“…It was found that the accumulation of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and ectopic fat deposition, such as liver, pancreas, heart, skeletal muscle, are closely related to IR and T2DM ( 7 , 8 ). However, there is still controversy surrounding the relationship between ectopic fat deposition and T2DM, particularly in pancreatic fat deposition ( 9 – 13 ). The reasons may be attributed to differences in study population, ethnicity, disease status, and the quantitative techniques employed.…”