Unraveling the TyG index: a novel marker of insulin resistance and its implications for non-communicable diseases

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a novel marker derived from routine lipid and glucose measurements, has emerged as a promising tool for the assessment of insulin resistance (IR). Traditional methods for assessing IR, such as the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), have limitations in practical application due to their reliance on insulin measurements. The TyG index offers a convenient and cost-effective alternative to estimate IR with comparable accuracy, thereby highlighting its relevance for clinical and public health interventions.

Recent evidence from epidemiological studies has highlighted the predictive power of the TyG index in identifying individuals at increased risk for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Elevated levels of the TyG index have been consistently associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and kidney disease, independent of traditional risk factors. It has also been associated with disease outcome and mortality, further emphasizing its clinical usefulness.

We will present two epidemiological studies on the TyG index carried out at our institute. In the first study, we used data from more than half a million individuals from six pooled European cohorts, and showed that the TyG index is prospectively associated with an increased risk of cancers of the digestive system, and that the TyG index mediates a substantial part of the effect of obesity on these cancers. In the second study, we merged data from 176,000 participants of the Vorarlberg Health Monitoring and Promotion Programme with the Austrian Dialysis and Transplant Registry, and showed that the TyG index is both an independent risk factor and an important mediator of obesity in relation to the risk of end-stage kidney disease.

In conclusion, the TyG index provides a valuable tool for the assessment of IR, which is crucial in addressing the rising prevalence of NCDs. Its simplicity and effectiveness make it an essential component of public health strategies aimed at early detection and intervention.

 

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Publication History

Article published online:
05 December 2024