Fatty liver disease is one of the common and frequently occurring medical conditions. However, there is little information about weight-induced fat accumulation in the pancreas, which could lead to type 2 diabetes.
A research team led by Prof. Annette Schürmann and Prof. Tim J. Schulz of the German Institute of Human Nutrition has found that obese mice who were vulnerable to diabetes have a higher accumulation of fat in the pancreas.
Prof. Schürmann said, “Fat accumulations outside the fat tissue, e.g. in the liver, muscles or even bones, have a negative effect on these organs and the entire body. What impact fat cells have within the pancreas has not been clear until now.”
The research team divided the overweight mice that were prone to diabetes into two groups. The first group of mice was allowed to eat as much as they wanted and whenever they wanted, while the second group of mice underwent an intermittent fasting regimen.
After five weeks, the scientists observed that the pancreatic fat cells accumulated in group one, while the other group hardly had any fat deposits in the pancreas.
Intermittent fasting helps improve sensitivity to the hormone insulin that regulates blood glucose levels, which protects against fatty liver. The scientists have discovered that mice who were on an intermittent fasting regimen also exhibited lower pancreatic fat.
Previous studies suggest that reducing only liver fat helps prevent type 2 diabetes. Prof. Schulz said, “Under certain genetic conditions, the accumulation of fat in the pancreas may play a decisive role in the development of type 2 diabetes.”
The researchers said, “Intermittent fasting could be a promising therapeutic approach in the future. The advantages: it is non-invasive, easy to integrate into everyday life and does not require drugs.” Intermittent fasting is not eating during certain times in a day. However, water, unsweetened tea or black coffee is allowed. The fasting lasts from 16 to 24 hours or a maximum of 500 to 600 calories on two days within a week. The best-known form of intermittent fasting is the 16:8 method, which includes eating only during the first eight hours and fasting for the remaining 16 hours.
