title: The association between ectopic fat in the pancreas and subclinical atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evidence that pancreatic fat accumulation has a role in obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is emerging. However, data on the influence of pancreatic steatosis on subclinical atherosclerosis are lacking.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 198 patients with type 2 DM. Pancreatic computed tomography (CT) attenuations were assessed using CT imaging. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2) according to the Asian-specific BMI cut-offs. We defined pancreatic steatosis as pancreatic attenuations below median levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pancreatic attenuations was significantly correlated with age (r=-0.302, p<0.001), visceral fat area (r=-0.194, p=0.006) and vascular stiffness (r=-0.242, p=0.001). In the non-obese group (BMI<25 kg/m(2)), pancreatic steatosis was associated with a higher prevalence of carotid artery plaque and vascular stiffness. In the non-obese group, patients with pancreatic steatosis, compared with those without, had an odds ratio (OR) of 3.1 (95% CI 1.2-8.1) for carotid atherosclerosis, after adjusting for age, gender and BMI. However, significant associations between pancreatic steatosis and atherosclerosis were not found in the obese group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ectopic fat in the pancreas is strongly associated with carotid atherosclerosis in non-obese subjects with type 2 DM. This finding highlights the importance of pancreatic fat deposits related to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, especially in non-obese subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mee Kyoung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Ji
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Myung
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: bookdoo7@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Dong Jin
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: drkwon@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Hyuk-Sang
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Diabetes mellitus; Ectopic fat; Pancreatic fat