讀後心得

Fatty pancreas is a less commonly known disease that is closely associated with diabetes and pancreatic cancer. Dr. Lin Hsiang-Hung pointed out that the incidence of fatty pancreas reaches 16%, and it is more likely to lead to insulin secretion problems than fatty liver, increasing the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Research shows that 62% of pancreatic cancer patients have fatty pancreas, as excessive fat cells can cause inflammation, increasing cancer risk. High-risk groups, including those with metabolic syndrome and long-term alcohol users, need to be particularly vigilant. Additionally, lifestyle adjustments, such as reducing sugar intake, exercising regularly, and avoiding alcohol, are especially important for protecting pancreatic health.

Most people are familiar with fatty liver, but have you heard of "fatty pancreas"? Medical research shows that "fatty pancreas" is not only closely related to diabetes but also has a significant association with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic specialists remind us that the prevalence of fatty pancreas may be higher than we think, especially among certain at-risk populations.

Do you think fat only accumulates in the liver? In fact, fat can also accumulate in the pancreas! When we consume excessive greasy food and lack exercise, the body stores the excess fat, which accumulates in the liver causing fatty liver, while accumulation in the pancreas is referred to as "fatty pancreas." According to expert studies, one in three people has fatty liver in Taiwan, and the prevalence of fatty pancreas reaches 16%. While the causes of fatty pancreas are similar to those of fatty liver, the pancreas is more sensitive to fat, and fat accumulation can also affect insulin secretion, increasing the risk of diabetes.

Studies indicate that about half of the patients with fatty pancreas also have diabetes. Furthermore, fatty pancreas is closely related to metabolic syndrome, which becomes a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, leading patients to often experience high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high blood lipids, further increasing the chances of arteriosclerosis, stroke, and myocardial infarction.

Long-term inflammation may increase cancer risk, and the presence of fatty pancreas also suggests "metabolic syndrome." Recent research has found that among patients with pancreatic cancer, as many as 62% also have fatty pancreas, a figure that is six times that of the general population. Excessive fat cells can increase pro-inflammatory factors in the blood and reduce anti-inflammatory cytokines, resulting in cellular hypoxia that may trigger cancerous changes. Research shows that excessively high blood sugar levels promote the body to secrete large amounts of insulin; excess blood sugar and insulin can lead to cell inflammation, and a persistent inflammatory state increases the risk of pancreatic malignancies.

So, which populations are at higher risk? According to analyses, high-risk groups can be primarily divided into two categories: one category includes those with metabolic syndrome, which involves issues such as abdominal obesity and the three highs; the other category consists of long-term alcohol consumers, as excessive drinking gradually replaces pancreatic cells with fat cells, affecting pancreatic function.

• Abdominal obesity
• Elevated blood pressure
• Elevated blood sugar
• Elevated triglycerides
• Low high-density (good) cholesterol
• Regular alcohol consumption

As can be seen, individuals with normal weight can also have fatty pancreas. Excess abdominal fat, particularly with men having a waist circumference over 90cm and women over 80cm, poses higher risks. To reduce the risk of fatty pancreas, it's recommended to adjust lifestyle habits, including reducing intake of refined sugars and refined starches, choosing healthy whole foods, establishing a regular exercise routine, and avoiding alcohol, to protect pancreatic health.