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Epidemiology and population health

Visceral adiposity and high adiponectin levels are associated with the prevalence of pancreatic cystic lesions

Abstract

Objectives

Obesity is increasing in developed countries and is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer (PaC). We previously reported that obesity was associated with pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs), which are both precursors of, and risk factors for, PaC. In the present study, we further investigated the relationship between visceral adiposity and adiponectin levels and the extent of PCLs.

Methods

Individuals who underwent comprehensive health screening at our institution between January 2008 and March 2013 were analyzed. PCLs were diagnosed via magnetic resonance imaging using a 3.0 Tesla system. The volumes of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were measured from computed tomographic volume data. Serum levels of adiponectin were measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

The prevalences of PCLs were 14.2% in males (N = 2683; mean age, 56.4 years) and 16.2% in females (N = 1741; mean age, 57.1 years). The prevalence of PCLs increased gradually as VAT volume increased (P < 0.001). PCLs were more prevalent in individuals with high adiponectin levels (18.7% vs. 13.8%, P = 0.005). VAT volume (odds ratio [OR] for the highest quartiles, 1.52 [1.07–2.16]; P = 0.025) and adiponectin level (OR for the highest quartiles, 1.31 [1.08–1.59]; P = 0.007) but not SAT volume (P = 0.828) was significantly associated with PCLs in multivariate analyses.

Conclusions

Visceral adiposity and high adiponectin levels were associated with PCL prevalence. Further work is needed to explore the relationships between visceral adiposity and adiponectin levels, and PCLs and PaC.

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Correspondence to Yousuke Nakai.

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The Department of Computational Radiology and Preventive Medicine is sponsored by HIMEDIC, Inc. and Siemens Japan KK. However, this work is independent of these sponsors. All other declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Mizuno, S., Nakai, Y., Isayama, H. et al. Visceral adiposity and high adiponectin levels are associated with the prevalence of pancreatic cystic lesions. Int J Obes 43, 169–175 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-018-0083-4

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