Correlation between visceral fat area and ectopic fat deposition in young and middle-aged adults with overweight or...

Ectopic fat deposition in the liver and pancreas is common in people with overweight or obesity and shares metabolic riskfactors. The relationship between intrapancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) and hepatic fat deposition, and the mediating role of visceral fat,remain unclear. This study investigated their association and the influence of visceral adipose tissue in young and middle-aged adultswith overweight or obesity.

This cross-sectional study included 197 adults (aged 18-50 years) with overweight or obesity. Hepatic and pancreatic fat contents were quantified using non-contrast computed tomography, while visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue areas weremeasured via dual bioelectrical impedance analysis. Pearson correlation and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed,with adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI).

Among participants, 131 (66.5%) had abdominal obesity. The association between pancreatic and hepatic fat was significantly modified by abdominal obesity (p = 0.041). Subgroup analysis showed a positive correlation only in those without abdominal obesity.

Abdominal obesity significantly modified the association between IPFD and hepatic fat (p for interaction = 0.041). A positive correlation was observed only in participants without abdominal obesity, while no significant association was found in those withabdominal obesity. Abdominal obesity, reflecting visceral fat accumulation, weakened the pancreas-liver fat association. This suggestsa potential modulatory role of visceral fat in ectopic fat interrelationships, although causality cannot be inferred due to the cross-sectionaldesign.