The Causal Effect of Intrapancreatic Fat Deposition on Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

INTRODUCTION

Recent associative studies have linked intrapancreatic fat deposition (IPFD) with risk of pancreatitis, but the causal relationship remains unclear.

METHODS

Using Mendelian randomization, we evaluated the causal association between genetically predicted IPFD and pancreatitis. This approach used genetic variants from genomewide association studies of IPFD (n = 25,617), acute pancreatitis (n = 6,787 cases/361,641 controls), and chronic pancreatitis (n = 3,875 cases/361,641 controls).

RESULTS

Genetically predicted IPFD was significantly associated with acute pancreatitis (odds ratio per 1-SD increase: 1.40 [95% CI: 1.12-1.76], P = 0.0032) and chronic pancreatitis (odds ratio: 1.64 [95% CI: 1.13-2.39], P = 0.0097).

DISCUSSION: Our findings support a causal role of IPFD in pancreatitis, suggesting that reducing IPFD could lower the risk of pancreatitis.