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Obesity and fat quantification in lean tissues using three-point Dixon MR imaging
Arzu Kovanlikaya1, Steven D Mittelman, Andrette Ward
1Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.
Pediatric Radiology
|March 24, 2005
Summary
In obese teenagers, increased body fat in the liver and muscle correlates with higher insulin levels. Unexpectedly, pancreatic fat accumulation did not impair insulin secretion in this study group.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Health
- Pediatric Obesity
Background:
- Increased hepatic and intramuscular fat are linked to insulin resistance.
- Pancreatic fat accumulation may impair insulin secretion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between insulin levels and ectopic fat deposition (liver, muscle, pancreas) in obese, nondiabetic teenagers.
- To test the hypothesis that higher pancreatic fat correlates with lower insulin secretion.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) quantified fat percentage in the liver, muscle, and pancreas.
- Study included 15 healthy Mexican-American girls aged 14-17 with a wide range of Body Mass Indexes (BMIs).
Main Results:
- Strong correlations found between BMI and fat content in the liver, muscle, and pancreas.
- Insulin levels were closely associated with muscle and liver fat.
- Contrary to the hypothesis, pancreatic fat content was directly related to insulin secretion.
Conclusions:
- Obesity in nondiabetic teenagers is associated with increased pancreatic fat accumulation.
- This fat accumulation does not appear to impair insulin secretion in this population.