Pancreatic fat content was studied in 15 pigs using 1H MRS and/or biochemical analyses. In addition, liver and pancreatic fat were assessed using 1H MRS in eight monozygotic male twin pairs with 18 % mean difference in VO2max between the twin brothers.
Twins with higher physical fitness had 23 % less liver fat (1.3 ± 1.3 % vs. 2.1 ± 2.6 % , p = 0.022) but no such difference was observed in the pancreatic fat (8.2 ± 9.3 % vs. 9.8 ± 8.5 % , respectively, p = 0.3). Hepatic fat content was inversely associated with VO2max. A positive association was found between pancreatic and liver fat contents (β = 5.18, p = 0.012). Pancreatic fat content was also associated with insulin sensitivity indexes and plasma adiponectin and glutamyltransferase concentrations.
Pancreatic fat content is associated with insulin resistance and hepatic fat content. An active lifestyle seems to beneficially influence hepatic fat metabolism.