Noninvasive Assessment of Abdominal Adipose Tissues and Fat Quantification of the Liver and Pancreas in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder effecting millions of people worldwide. T2DM is associated with insulin resistance and adipose tissue dysfunction which promote ectopic fat deposition and lipotoxicity in muscle, liver, and pancreatic beta cells. However, the impact of dysfunctional adipose tissue has not been fully elucidated. Here we examined the adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), hepatic fat fraction (HFF) and pancreatic fat fraction (PFF) difference between T2DM and age-matched healthy controls using the 6-point Dixon MRI technique and assess relationship with biochemical markers of insulin resistance. We observed trend of increasing VAT, SAT and TAT volume in T2DM patients along with significantly higher HFF% and PFF%. HbA1c in T2DM patients were positively correlated with VAT, total adipose tissue and HFF%. Our preliminary results of increased SAT and VAT reaffirmed that central obesity is connected with the evolution of T2DM. Increased HFF% and correlation of increased HbA1c with increased HFF% in T2DM suggested that T2DM patients suffer from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In summary, increased liver, pancreatic fat, and adipose tissue characterize T2DM patients and the insulin resistance. Better understanding of these results will help us in formulate early intervention strategies and to evaluate the efficacy of therapies.