Sign in Subscribe
Cancer research

Excessive Intrapancreatic Fat Deposition Linked to Major Pancreatic Diseases

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Research has shown a significant correlation between excessive intrapancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) and the risk of acute pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and diabetes mellitus. A systematic review of 23 studies involving over 100,000 participants found that individuals with excessive IPFD at baseline were four times more likely to develop acute pancreatitis, three times more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, and twice as likely to develop diabetes mellitus during follow-up. According to the study, eliminating excessive IPFD could potentially prevent 34% of acute pancreatitis cases, 23% of pancreatic cancer cases, and 21% of diabetes mellitus cases. The research suggests that reducing IPFD may have the greatest benefits for the prevention of acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

Key Takeaways:

  • Excessive IPFD is linked to a four-fold higher risk of acute pancreatitis, a three-fold higher risk of pancreatic cancer, and a two-fold higher risk of diabetes mellitus.
  • 23 studies, encompassing over 100,000 participants, were included in the systematic review.
  • Population-attributable fractions and E-values were calculated to quantify the association between IPFD and disease risk.
  • ACPRreasing IPFD was associated with a higher risk of developing pancreatic diseases, with the strongest association observed for acute pancreatitis.
  • The elimination of excessive IPFD could potentially prevent 34% of acute pancreatitis cases, 23% of pancreatic cancer cases, and 21% of diabetes mellitus cases.
  • The study found that unmeasured confounders were unlikely to explain away the statistically significant associations observed in the studies of acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
  • The research concluded that reducing IPFD may have the greatest benefits for the prevention of acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.
  • The study was peer-reviewed and published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
  • Chani-Brynn Leybourne led the research team from the University of Auckland, with contributions from Yutong Liu and Maxim S. Petrov.

Statistics:

  • 23 studies were included in the systematic review, involving over 100,000 participants.
  • Excessive IPFD at baseline was associated with a four-fold higher risk of acute pancreatitis (95% CI: 3.5-4.5).
  • Excessive IPFD at baseline was associated with a three-fold higher risk of pancreatic cancer (95% CI: 2.8-3.3).
  • Excessive IPFD at baseline was associated with a two-fold higher risk of diabetes mellitus (95% CI: 1.9-2.1).
  • The elimination of excessive IPFD could potentially prevent 34% of acute pancreatitis cases (95% CI: 29-39).
  • The elimination of excessive IPFD could potentially prevent 23% of pancreatic cancer cases (95% CI: 18-28).
  • The elimination of excessive IPFD could potentially prevent 21% of diabetes mellitus cases (95% CI: 16-26).

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Researchers at University of Auckland Report New Data on Pancreatic Diseases and Conditions (Excessive Intrapancreatic Fat Deposition and Risk of Pancreatic Diseases: Longitudinal Cohort Evidence from a Systematic Review with ...). Cancer Weekly. November 4, 2025; p 437.
  • Excessive Intrapancreatic Fat Deposition and Risk of Pancreatic Diseases: Longitudinal Cohort Evidence from a Systematic Review with Population-Attributable Fraction Analysis. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2025.

Read more