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
