Microbiome Characterization in Fatty Pancreas

There has been a growing interest in evaluating the role of gut and intra-lesional microbiome in the pathogenesis of various benign and malignant conditions of the GI tract, liver and pancreas. In addition, the feasibility of using microbiome signature as non-invasive biomarker for benign and malignant disease conditions of the GI tract has also been studied. While research on the impact of microbiome and genomics has been conducted in some pancreatic disorders such as acute pancreatitis, pre-malignant mucinous pancreatic cystic neoplasms (eg, IPMN) and pancreatic cancer, very little data is available regarding the microbiome signature and genomics associated with FP. As such, it would be clinically important to conduct a pilot study to investigate the microbiome and genomics associated in patients with or without FP defined by MRI-PDFF pancreatic fat fraction measurement.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 or older * Patients with FP, defined by MRI-PDFF pancreatic fat fraction \> 6.2% * Patients who are able to provide written informed consent to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Unable to provide written informed consent * Recent use of antibiotic, prebiotic, probiotic and symbiotic * Patients with significant alcohol consumption, defined as alcohol intake of over 20 g daily (140 g weekly) for men and 10 g daily (70 g weekly) for women