# Intra-pancreatic fat deposition links to widespread systemic health risks: UK Biobank prospective cohort study

## TL;DR

High levels of fat in the pancreas are linked to increased risks of 12 different diseases across multiple body systems, with a 7.35% fat threshold identified for clinical use.

## Contribution

This study identifies intra-pancreatic fat as a novel, causal multi-system disease risk factor and establishes a 7.35% fat threshold for clinical screening.

## Key findings

- Higher intra-pancreatic fat independently increases the risk of 12 diseases across metabolic, cardiovascular, and other systems.
- A 7.35% pancreatic fat threshold optimally stratifies disease risk for clinical screening and prevention.
- Nonlinear dose–response patterns and effect modifications by sex, race, smoking, and obesity were observed.

## Abstract

Intra-pancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) is associated with pancreatic diseases, but its systemic implications remain unclear.

We analyzed 25,547 UK Biobank participants (median follow-up 6.27 years) with MRI-derived pancreatic proton density fat fraction. Multi-variable Cox models, causal mediation, restricted cubic splines, and subgroup analyses assessed IPFD–disease associations. Significant associations were examined through bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) using the UK Biobank and FinnGen data. Receiver operating characteristic curves and the Youden index were used to identify a clinically relevant and statistically optimal IPFD threshold.

Higher IPFD independently increased the risk of 12 multi-systemic diseases: non-insulin-dependent diabetes, primary hypertension, heart failure, cerebral infarction, cholelithiasis, gastritis and duodenitis, diaphragmatic hernia, chronic renal failure, gonarthrosis, disorders of refraction and accommodation, senile cataract, and sleep disorders. Causal mediation by non-insulin-dependent diabetes was negligible. Nonlinear dose–response patterns and effect modifications by sex, race, smoking, and obesity emerged. MR analysis supported the potential causal effects of IPFD on refractive/accommodation disorders and gonarthrosis. An IPFD cutoff of 7.35% (95% CI: 5.68–9.23%) optimally stratified the risk.

IPFD is an independent risk factor for diverse conditions, including metabolic, cardiovascular, digestive, musculoskeletal, ophthalmologic, urinary, and mental/behavioral disorders. A pancreatic fat threshold of 7.35% may guide clinical screening and preventive strategies.

This study critically establishes intra-pancreatic fat as a novel, causal multi-system disease risk factor and provides a 7.35% quantitative threshold to advance radiological screening and prevention protocols.

Limited research exists on the systemic effects of IPFD.Pancreatic fat deposition independently raises risk for 12 multi-system diseases.A 7.35% pancreatic fat threshold can guide clinical screening and prevention.

Limited research exists on the systemic effects of IPFD.

Pancreatic fat deposition independently raises risk for 12 multi-system diseases.

A 7.35% pancreatic fat threshold can guide clinical screening and prevention.