Quantification of ectopic fat fractions in type 2 diabetes mellitus using MR-dixon technique

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a condition affecting over 366 million individuals by 2030, is intimately associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and the accumulation of ectopic fat, particularly in the liver and pancreas. MRI Dixon, a superior imaging technique, offers enhanced assessment of pancreatic fat compared to traditional ultrasound methods. This study aimed to evaluate ectopic fat accumulation in the pancreas, liver, and paraspinal skeletal muscles in T2DM patients compared to healthy controls using MRI Dixon technique. Methods: Using a 3T MRI with the m-Dixon sequence, the liver and pancreas of 15 T2DM patients and 15 healthy volunteers. We measured pancreatic fat fraction (PFF), hepatic fat fraction, body mass index, and fat fractions in visceral adipose tissue, and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). We compared these parameters between the experimental and control groups and analyzed correlations between PFF and other indicators. Results: Diabetic participants exhibited a significantly higher PFF (11.74 ± 3.46) compared to controls (3.61 ± 2.60; p = 0.000). Other fat measurements, including SAT, visceral fat index, psoas muscle fat fraction (PS FF), and bone marrow fat fraction (BM FF), were also elevated in diabetics (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Pancreatic fat is a crucial indicator of T2DM, showing superior predictive performance relative to other fat measures. Higher levels of liver and visceral fat correlate with poor glycemic control, underscoring the importance of managing blood glucose levels.