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Pancreatic triglyceride levels: implications for type 2 diabetes development in ethnic minorities
Author(s) -
Szczepaniak Lidia S.,
Mathur Ruchi,
Szczepaniak Edward,
Nelson Michael D.,
Chen Ida,
Victor Ronald G.,
Lingvay Ildiko
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.686.20
Subject(s) - lipotoxicity , medicine , steatosis , type 2 diabetes , endocrinology , diabetes mellitus , triglyceride , population , insulin resistance , cholesterol , environmental health
The exact role of pancreatic fat in the development of human impaired glucose tolerance remains unclear. Basic research using rodent models of type 2 diabetes has identified pancreatic steatosis and lipotoxicity as a leading cause of beta cell dysfunction. We sought to translate these mechanistic studies into the clinical population. The purpose of this investigation was to determine differences in pancreatic fat content by localized 1 H MR Spectroscopy across three major ethnic groups: African American (AA), Hispanic (HA), and White (WA); and to explore the association between pancreatic fat content and insulin secretion. We found differences in pancreatic fat content between AA, HA and WA. Pancreatic TG levels were higher inWA and HA, compared to AA (P < 0.05). Importantly, the level of pancreatic TG content was associated with insulin secretion. Our data suggest that pancreatic steatosis may identify a subset of asymptomatic individuals who are at high risk for development of type 2 diabetes. 1 H‐MRS and measurement of pancreatic TG content may constitute a new therapeutic target. Our data also highlight a potential need for ethnically appropriate preclinical biomarkers.