Remnant cholesterol, but not low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, is associated with intra-pancreatic fat deposition

Aim: To investigate the associations of components of the lipid panel (and its derivatives) with intra-pancreatic fat deposition (IPFD).Methods: All participants underwent abdominal magnetic resonance imaging on the same 3.0-Tesla scanner and IPFD was quantified. Blood samples were collected in the fasted state for analysis of lipid panel components. A series of linear regression analyses was conducted, adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and liver fat deposition.Results: A total of 348 participants were included. Remnant cholesterol (P = 0.010) and triglyceride levels (P = 0.008) were positively, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (P = 0.001) was negatively, associated with total IPFD in the most adjusted model. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol were not significantly associated with total IPFD. Of the lipid panel components investigated, remnant cholesterol explained the greatest proportion (9.9%) of the variance in total IPFD.Conclusion: Components of the lipid panel have different associations with IPFD. This may open up new opportunities for improving outcomes in people at high risk for cardiovascular diseases (who have normal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) by reducing IPFD.

Automated summary

This study investigated the associations between components of the lipid panel and intra-pancreatic fat deposition. Linear regression analysis revealed that remnant cholesterol and triglyceride levels were positively associated, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was negatively associated with intra-pancreatic fat deposition. These findings provide new opportunities for improving cardiovascular outcomes in individuals with normal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by reducing intra-pancreatic fat deposition.