Metabolic Syndrome and Non-alcoholic Fatty Pancreas Disease

Abstract The prevalence of overweight and obesity has been increasing worldwide over the past decade. In 2022, according to WHO data, 43% of individuals globally were classified as overweight or obese. Considering that obesity is associated with a range of serious diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular and neurovascular diseases, malignancies, and steatosis of parenchymal organs like the liver and pancreas, obesity and overweight represent significant health and societal challenges. The presence of abdominal-type obesity, hyperglycemia, elevated serum triglyceride levels, low HDL cholesterol levels, and arterial hypertension characterizes a condition known as metabolic syndrome. The presence of fat in the pancreatic parenchyma is a hallmark of non-alcoholic fatty pancreas disease (NAFPD). This condition may contribute to the development of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), or pancreatic carcinoma. Since the localization of pancreatic fat is most prominent in the head of the pancreas, and because the most common site of pancreatic carcinoma is in the same region of the gland, the association between pancreatic steatosis and pancreatic carcinoma is more than likely. For this reason, patients with pancreatic steatosis require continuous medical monitoring.