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The verification of the reliability of a triglyceride–glucose index and its availability as an advanced tool

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Abstract

Background

The triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index has been considered as insulin resistance (IR) assessment index. The current study aimed to verify the reliability of the TyG index as an IR assessment marker; the study of plasma fatty acids and body fat composition to determine potential metabolic syndrome (MetS) participants with a body mass index (BMI) of between 25.0 and 29.9 kg/m2.

Methods

The study included 378 overweight participants with a body mass index of between 25.0 and 29.9 kg/m2. They were divided into tertiles according to the homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) or the TyG index. The role of the IR assessment index and the relationship with IR-related diseases and the risk factors using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry, computed tomography, and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, was investigated.

Results

It was only in the TyG index tertile that the higher TyG index participants showed considerably higher LDL-cholesterol levels. More markedly, a close relationship was observed between the TyG index and the omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids compared with the HOMA-IR. Unlike HOMA-IR, with regard to the risks of developing chronic diseases, the MetS, the third tertile of the TyG index, showed an approximately 33.7 times greater odds ratio (OR) of the MetS occurring, compared with the first tertile of the TyG index.

Conclusions

The TyG index may be considered as an IR assessment index. In addition, the TyG index is an advanced tool that reflects the relevance of pro-inflammation levels and the presence of IR-related chronic diseases.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.co.kr) for English language editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrine and Kidney Disease Research, Department of Chronic Disease Convergence Research, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Osong-eup, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, 28159, Republic of Korea

    Sarang Jeong

  2. National Leading Research Laboratory of Clinical Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics, Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Korea

    Jong Ho Lee

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  1. Sarang Jeong
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Contributions

SRJ analyzed and visualized the formal data, wrote the original draft, and reviewed and edited the manuscript, conceptualization, data curating, investigation, acquisition, and analyzing of the data. Also, contributed to the conceptualization, project administration, and supervision. JHL contributed to the conceptualization, data curation, interpretation of the data, project administration and supervision. Both authors critically revised the manuscript, read and approved the final manuscript, and agreed to be held fully accountable for the integrity and accuracy of the work.

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Correspondence to Jong Ho Lee.

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Jeong, S., Lee, J.H. The verification of the reliability of a triglyceride–glucose index and its availability as an advanced tool. Metabolomics 17, 97 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-021-01837-9

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