A Study on the Applicability of the TyG Index as a Replacement for the HOMA-IR: A Korean Population-Based Cohort Study

Abstract

Background: Recently, the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index has been covered as a convenient index for insulin resistance (IR) assessment and is being addressed compared to the homeostatic model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR). However, there still is a lack of research on a systematic and detailed investigation of applicability as an IR assessment index for TyG. Methods: The study included 378 overweight subjects with a body mass index of 25.0–29.9 kg/m2. They were divided into tertiles according to the HOMA-IR or the TyG index. It investigated the role of the IR assessment index and the relationship with IR-related diseases and the risk factors. The Institutional Review Board of Yonsei University (IRB No. 7001988-202005-BR-879-01E) and the Severance Hospital approved the study protocol, which complied with the Declaration of Helsinki (1964). Findings: It was only in the TyG index tertile that the higher TyG index subjects had a considerably higher LDL-cholesterol level. More markedly a close relationship was observed between the TyG index and the omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids than the HOMA-IR. Regarding the risk of developing chronic diseases, metabolic syndrome (MetS), the third tertile of the TyG index, had about a 33.7 times greater odds ratio (OR) of occurring MetS than the first tertile of the TyG index, whereas the ORs of MetS in the HOMA-IR tertile did not show any significant differences. Interpretation: The TyG index is an advanced tool that reflects the relevance of pro-inflammation levels and the presence of IR-related chronic diseases rather than HOMA-IR. Funding Statement: None. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: The Institutional Review Board of Yonsei University (IRB No. 7001988-202005-BR-879-01E) and the Severance Hospital approved the study protocol, which complied with the Declaration of Helsinki (1964).