The association between pancreatic diseases and pancreatic fat content: a cross-sectional study from the UK Biobank

ObjectiveMany researches have demonstrated an association between intra-pancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) and several pancreatic pathological conditions, including pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of pancreatic...

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Main Authors: Jing Gao, Xiaowu Dong, Xiaolei Shi, Yuqing Yang, Weiwei Chen, Weiming Xiao, Guotao Lu, Xiaoping Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Endocrinology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1591652/full
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author Jing Gao
Xiaowu Dong
Xiaolei Shi
Yuqing Yang
Weiwei Chen
Weiming Xiao
Guotao Lu
Xiaoping Yu
author_facet Jing Gao
Xiaowu Dong
Xiaolei Shi
Yuqing Yang
Weiwei Chen
Weiming Xiao
Guotao Lu
Xiaoping Yu
author_sort Jing Gao
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveMany researches have demonstrated an association between intra-pancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) and several pancreatic pathological conditions, including pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of pancreatic diseases on the accumulation of pancreatic fat, to further explore which kind of pancreatic disease is significant, and to find out the possible mediating factors.MethodsA cross-sectional study based on the UK Biobank (UKB) data categorized participants by pancreatic disease status and collated relevant information. IPFD was measured using MRI in combination with a deep learning-based organ segmentation model, nnUNet. Linear regression models and mediation analysis were employed to explore the association between pancreatic diseases and IPFD.ResultsAmong 61,088 participants, those with pancreatic diseases exhibited higher IPFD than those without (pancreatic endocrine diseases: 11.72% vs 7.94%, P<0.001; pancreatic exocrine diseases: 9.44% vs 8.03%, P<0.001). After adjusting for multiple variables, a positive association between pancreatic endocrine diseases (particularly T2DM) and IPFD persisted, but not for pancreatic exocrine diseases. Obesity and dyslipidemia partially explained the relationship between T2DM and IPFD.ConclusionPancreatic exocrine disorders are not associated with an increased risk of IPFD, whereas pancreatic endocrine disorders, particularly T2DM, may exhibit a positive relationship. However, the possibility of reverse causation cannot be discounted.
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spelling doaj-art-2badac0a7ae645c1952c970a5496dff32025-08-20T03:26:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922025-06-011610.3389/fendo.2025.15916521591652The association between pancreatic diseases and pancreatic fat content: a cross-sectional study from the UK BiobankJing Gao0Xiaowu Dong1Xiaolei Shi2Yuqing Yang3Weiwei Chen4Weiming Xiao5Guotao Lu6Xiaoping Yu7Pancreatic Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Yangzhou Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaPancreatic Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Yangzhou Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaPancreatic Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Yangzhou Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaSchool of Nursing, School of Public Health, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaClinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaPancreatic Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Yangzhou Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaPancreatic Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Yangzhou Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Health Management Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaObjectiveMany researches have demonstrated an association between intra-pancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) and several pancreatic pathological conditions, including pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of pancreatic diseases on the accumulation of pancreatic fat, to further explore which kind of pancreatic disease is significant, and to find out the possible mediating factors.MethodsA cross-sectional study based on the UK Biobank (UKB) data categorized participants by pancreatic disease status and collated relevant information. IPFD was measured using MRI in combination with a deep learning-based organ segmentation model, nnUNet. Linear regression models and mediation analysis were employed to explore the association between pancreatic diseases and IPFD.ResultsAmong 61,088 participants, those with pancreatic diseases exhibited higher IPFD than those without (pancreatic endocrine diseases: 11.72% vs 7.94%, P<0.001; pancreatic exocrine diseases: 9.44% vs 8.03%, P<0.001). After adjusting for multiple variables, a positive association between pancreatic endocrine diseases (particularly T2DM) and IPFD persisted, but not for pancreatic exocrine diseases. Obesity and dyslipidemia partially explained the relationship between T2DM and IPFD.ConclusionPancreatic exocrine disorders are not associated with an increased risk of IPFD, whereas pancreatic endocrine disorders, particularly T2DM, may exhibit a positive relationship. However, the possibility of reverse causation cannot be discounted.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1591652/fullintra-pancreatic fat depositionpancreatic diseasestype 2 diabetes mellitusUK Biobankmediation analysis
spellingShingle Jing Gao
Xiaowu Dong
Xiaolei Shi
Yuqing Yang
Weiwei Chen
Weiming Xiao
Guotao Lu
Xiaoping Yu
The association between pancreatic diseases and pancreatic fat content: a cross-sectional study from the UK Biobank
Frontiers in Endocrinology
intra-pancreatic fat deposition
pancreatic diseases
type 2 diabetes mellitus
UK Biobank
mediation analysis
title The association between pancreatic diseases and pancreatic fat content: a cross-sectional study from the UK Biobank
title_full The association between pancreatic diseases and pancreatic fat content: a cross-sectional study from the UK Biobank
title_fullStr The association between pancreatic diseases and pancreatic fat content: a cross-sectional study from the UK Biobank
title_full_unstemmed The association between pancreatic diseases and pancreatic fat content: a cross-sectional study from the UK Biobank
title_short The association between pancreatic diseases and pancreatic fat content: a cross-sectional study from the UK Biobank
title_sort association between pancreatic diseases and pancreatic fat content a cross sectional study from the uk biobank
topic intra-pancreatic fat deposition
pancreatic diseases
type 2 diabetes mellitus
UK Biobank
mediation analysis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1591652/full
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