Implications of Tobacco Smoking and Alcohol Consumption on Ectopic Fat Deposition in Individuals After Pancreatitis.

Objectives Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption are established risk factors for pancreatitis. This study investigated the associations between tobacco smoking/alcohol consumption in people after an attack of pancreatitis and intrapancreatic fat deposition (IPFD), intrahepatic fat deposition (IHFD), and skeletal muscle (SMFD) fat deposition. Methods In this cross-sectional study, magnetic resonance imaging was used to quantify IPFD, IHFD, and SMFD by 2 independent raters. A validated questionnaire was used to determine tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption. Results A total of 119 individuals after an attack of pancreatitis were included. Average tobacco smoking contributed most to variance in IPFD (R-2= 6.5%) and least to variance in SMFD (R-2= 0.4%). Average alcohol consumption contributed most to variance in variance in IPFD (R-2= 2.8%) and least to IHFD (R-2= 1.1%). Packs/day contributed more than years of smoking to variance in IPFD (R-2= 4.9 and 0.2%, correspondingly), whereas years of drinking contributed more than average daily alcohol consumption (R-2= 3.9 and 3.2%, correspondingly). Conclusions Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption contributed more to variance in IPFD than IHFD and SMFD. Smoking contributed more than drinking to variance in IPFD. The daily amount of tobacco smoked appeared to be more important than years of smoking for IPFD.