The Triglycerides and Glucose Index is Negatively Associated with Insulin Secretion in Young Adults with Normal Weight

Abstract

Several studies have supported the usefulness of the triglycerides and glucose (TyG) index as a surrogate measure of insulin resistance; however, it has not been evaluated in insulin secretion. The aim of this study was to assess the association between the TyG index and insulin secretion in young adults with normal weight. Apparently healthy non-pregnant women and men, aged 18 to 23 years, were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Overweight, obesity, pregnancy, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, liver disease, renal disease, cardiovascular disease, and neoplasia were the exclusion criteria. Normal weight was defined by a body mass index (BMI)≥18.5<25.0 kg/m² and the TyG index was calculated as the Ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dl) x fasting glucose (mg/dl)]/2. A total of 1676 young adults with normal-weight, 1141 (68%) women, and 535 (32%) men were enrolled. Of them, 269 (16%) individuals exhibited insulin resistance; 213 (12.7%) women and 56 (3.3%) men. The linear regression analysis adjusted by gender, BMI, and waist circumference showed a significant association between the TyG index and HOMA-B (B=−35.90; 95% CI:−68.25 to−3.54, p=0.03) in the overall population. An additional analysis adjusted by BMI and waist circumference revealed that the TyG index is significantly associated with HOMA-B in subjects with and without insulin resistance (B=−104.73; 95% CI:−204.28 to−5.18, p=0.03 and B=−74.72; 95% CI:−108.04 to−41.40, p<0.001). The results of this study showed that the TyG index is negatively associated with insulin secretion in young adults with normal weight.

Key words

TyG index - triglycerides - glucose - insulin - insulin secretion

Publication History

Received: 27 September 2021

Accepted after revision: 30 November 2021

Article published online:
05 January 2022

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