Abstract
Current knowledge on biomarkers of intra-pancreatic fat deposition (IFD) is limited. We aimed to analyze comprehensively body composition and insulin traits as biomarkers of IFD in healthy normoglycaemic individuals as well as individuals with new-onset prediabetes and diabetes after acute pancreatitis (NODAP). A total of 29 healthy and 34 NODAP individuals took part in this cross-sectional study. The studied biomarkers belonged to the following domains: body composition (anthropometry and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived variables), indices of insulin secretion, indices of insulin sensitivity, incretins, and related peptides, as well as pancreatitis-related factors. All MRI-derived variables (including IFD) were measured using ImageJ software. Univariate analysis and stepwise regression analysis were conducted to determine variables that best explain variance in IFD. Visceral fat volume and oxyntomodulin were the best biomarkers of IFD in normoglycaemic healthy individuals, contributing to 64% variance. The Raynaud index was the best biomarker of IFD in individuals with NODAP, contributing to a 20% variance. Longitudinal studies are warranted to investigate the cause and effect relationship between oxyntomodulin and IFD in health, as well as insulin sensitivity and IFD in NODAP.
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