Triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and the progression of liver fibrosis: A cross-sectional study

Investigation of the connection between triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the risk of acute kidney injury in septic patients - a retrospective analysis utilizing the MIMIC-IV database

The TyG index serves as a valuable tool for evaluating insulin resistance. An elevated TyG has shown a strong association with the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI). Nevertheless, existing literature does not address the relationship between the TyG index and acute kidney injury in patients with sepsis. Sepsis patients were identified from the MIMIC-IV database and categorized into four groups according to quadrilles of their TyG index values. The primary outcome of this study was the incidence of AKI. The relationship between the TyG index and the risk of AKI in septic patients was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards and restricted cubic spline models. Subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate the prognostic value of the TyG index in different subgroups. A total of 2,616 patients with sepsis (57% of whom were male) were included in this study. The incidence of AKI was found to be 78%. Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed a significant correlation between the TyG index and the occurrence of AKI in septic patients. Furthermore, a restricted cubic spline model revealed an approximately linear relationship between a higher TyG index and an elevated risk of AKI in septic patients. The trend of the hazard ratio (HR) remained consistent across various subgroups. These findings emphasize the reliability of the TyG index as an independent predictor for the occurrence of AKI and unfavorable renal outcomes in sepsis patients. Nevertheless, establishing a causal relationship between the two requires demonstration through larger prospective studies.

Associations between cardiometabolic indices and the onset of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease as well as its progression to liver fibrosis: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

This study sought to examine the associations between cardiometabolic indices and the onset of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) as well as its progression to liver fibrosis.

METHODS

This study comprised 25,366 subjects aged 18 years and older, free of MASLD at baseline, from the Dalian Health Management Cohort (DHMC). Cardiometabolic indices include cardiometabolic index (CMI), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), triglyceride glucose (TyG), triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI), triglyceride glucose-waist circumference (TyG-WC) and triglyceride glucose-waist height ratio (TyG-WHtR). All participants were categorized into quartile groups based on cardiometabolic indices. Cox proportional hazards regression models and restricted cubic splines were employed to examine the relationship between cardiometabolic indices and the incidence of MASLD as well as its progression to liver fibrosis, and analyses were performed between different subgroups. Mediation analysis was employed to explore how obesity and inflammation serve as mediators in the connection between cardiometabolic indices and MASLD. To evaluate the predictive ability of cardiometabolic indices for the onset of MASLD, the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized.

RESULTS

A total of 5378 (21.2%) individuals developed MASLD during the follow-up period of 82,445 person-years. Multivariates Cox regression analyses showed that participants in the highest quartile of cardiometabolic indices had greater risk of MASLD than those in the lowest quartile (CMI: HR = 6.11, 95% CI 5.45-6.86; AIP: HR = 4.58, 95% CI 4.11-5.10; TyG: HR = 3.55, 95% CI 3.21-3.92; TyG-BMI: HR = 13.55, 95% CI 11.80-15.57; TyG-WC: HR = 12.52, 95% CI 10.93-14.34; TyG-WHtR: HR = 11.37, 95% CI 9.96-12.98). TyG-BMI (HR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.18-1.57), but not other cardiometabolic indices, was associated with liver fibrosis. Mediation analysis indicated that BMI mediated 40.4%, 33.2%, 36.5%, - 10.4%, 37.4%, 48.5% of the associations between CMI, AIP, TyG, TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, TyG-WHtR and MASLD. Time-dependent ROC curves demonstrated that TyG-BMI had a superior predictive ability for MASLD onset compared to other indicators.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of developing MASLD increases as the level of cardiometabolic indices increases. Obesity may serve as a mediating factor in the aforementioned association. TyG-BMI showed the strongest association with the onset of MASLD and its progression to liver fibrosis, proved to be outperformed other cardiometabolic indicators, and could be the best clinical non-invasive biomarker for early screening of MASLD and liver fibrosis.

Association Between Triglyceride Glucose Index and Risk of Carotid Plaques in Asia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index is used to assess insulin resistance, which is associated with the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases, but the risk of carotid plaques is controversial in Asia. We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library for articles published up to October 15, 2023, to assess the association and dose-response association of the TyG index with the risk of carotid plaques in Asia. The random effects model was used to calculate the effect estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 534 articles were retrieved, and eleven studies were selected, involving 145 218 Asian participants. When the TyG index was analyzed as a categorical variable, compared with the low TyG index, the high TyG index increased the risk of carotid plaques (OR=1.38, 95% CI: 1.20, 1.60, p<0.001). As continuous variables were analyzed, similar results were observed (OR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.22, 1.45, p<0.001). Meanwhile, dose-response analysis showed that the risk of carotid plaque increased by 1.03 times for every unit increase in the TyG index (RR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.03, p<0.001). Our meta-analysis indicates an association between the TyG index and the risk of carotid plaques in Asia. Further studies are required to substantiate these findings.

The triglyceride glucose-waist circumference is the best indicator for screening non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in middle-aged and elderly people

BACKGROUND

this investigation aimed to assess the correlation between the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and its related indicators, as well as the ratio of triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-c), with hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis among middle-aged and elderly participants.

METHODS

based on data from the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the study included adults of ages 40 years and older in the United States. To explore the correlation between TyG and its related indicators, as well as TG/HDL-c with hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis, multiple regression models were employed. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic curves were used to further explore the diagnostic efficacy of these indicators in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver fibrosis.

RESULTS

following the adjustment for various possible covariates, TyG, triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI), triglyceride glucose-waist circumference (TyG-WC), as well as TG/HDL-c were positively correlated with controlled attenuation parameter and NAFLD, with corresponding β coefficients of 17.90, 0.19, 0.20, and 1.57, alongside odds ratios of 2.10, 1.01, 1.01, and 1.15, respectively (all p < 0.05). The β coefficient for the association between TyG and liver stiffness measurement was -0.43 (p = 0.023). Notably, the area under the curve (AUC) of TyG-WC was the highest of all parameters, showing strong diagnostic potential for identifying NAFLD (AUC = 0.79) and liver fibrosis (AUC = 0.75).

CONCLUSIONS

this study reveals a significant positive correlation between TyG-WC and the prevalence of NAFLD in middle-aged and elderly people in the United States. These findings highlight that lowering TyG-WC levels may help reduce the incidence of NAFLD in middle-aged and older Americans.

Association between the triglyceride-glucose index and liver fibrosis in adults with metabolism-related fatty liver disease in the United States: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 2017-2020

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and liver fibrosis (LF) in U.S. adults with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MAFLD).

METHODS

Using data from the 2017 to 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database, we conducted a population-based cross-sectional study with 1,324 participants. MAFLD was defined as a controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) score ≥ 248 dB/m accompanied by metabolic dysfunction. A median liver stiffness measurement ≥ 8.2 kPa was used to identify significant fibrosis (≥ F2). Multivariable logistic regression was employed to assess the impact of the TyG index on LF outcomes. A restricted cubic spline (RCS) model was used to explore nonlinear effects, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were applied to evaluate the effectiveness in predicting.

RESULTS

Among the participants, 716 were men and 608 were women, aged 20 to 80 years, representing various racial groups. Significant fibrosis was observed in 137 out of 1,324 participants. After adjusting for confounding factors, a higher TyG index was significantly associated with an increased incidence of MAFLD-related LF (OR = 2.18, 95% CI, 1.14-4.18; p < 0.05). Elevated TyG levels showed a positive correlation with significant fibrosis, with an odds ratio (OR) exceeding 1 when the TyG index was above 8.054. Subgroup analyses stratified by sex, age, and body mass index (BMI) revealed differences after adjusting for confounders. The association was stronger in women (OR = 2.53, 95% CI, 1.16-5.53) than in men (OR = 1.95, 95% CI, 0.81-4.72). A significant correlation was also found between TyG levels and obesity status (overweight: OR = 4.80, 95% CI, 1.27-18.2; obese: OR = 2.26, 95% CI, 1.20-5.53). In MAFLD patients aged 40-59, TyG was strongly associated with LF (OR = 2.85, 95% CI, 1.16-6.79). Furthermore, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the TyG index in predicting significant fibrosis in MAFLD patients was 0.73 (95% CI, 0.68-0.78), indicating moderate predictive ability.

CONCLUSIONS

In the general U.S. population, elevated TyG index levels were positively associated with an increased risk of LF in MAFLD patients.

Association and Diagnostic Value of TyG-BMI for Hyperuricemia in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the association between TyG-BMI and hyperuricemia in NAFLD patients and assess its potential diagnostic value compared to the TyG index.

Patients and Methods

This study selected the patients diagnosed with fatty liver disease at the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University between September and December 2023. These patients were divided into NAFLD without HUA (NAFLD-NUA, n=1166) and NAFLD with HUA (NAFLD-HUA, n=844) groups. Baseline characteristics between the groups were compared. Patients were divided into quartiles (Q1-Q4) according to their TyG-BMI level; the lowest quartile (Q1) was used as the reference group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between TyG-BMI and HUA. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis and area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy.

Results

Patients in the NAFLD-HUA group had higher levels of TyG-BMI than patients in the NAFLD-NUA group(252.45±34.11VS 234.34±31.88, P<0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed that TyG-BMI levels were positively correlated with serum uric acid (SUA) (r=0.309, P<0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, logistic regression analysis revealed that TyG-BMI was a risk factor for HUA(OR:1.019 95% CI:(1.012, 1.027).) and shows superior diagnostic accuracy (AUC: 0.656) compared to the TyG index (AUC: 0.605).

Conclusion

TyG-BMI index is a risk factor for HUA in patients with NAFLD, and demonstrates acceptable diagnostic accuracy for NAFLD-HUA. But further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Effects of propolis supplementation on prooxidant-antioxidant balance, oxidative stress biomarkers, and body composition in obese patients with NAFLD: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial

Background

Oxidative stress is one of the main hits in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Propolis (PRP), a natural substance made by bees from plant extracts, has been reported to have antioxidant properties. The present clinical trial investigated the effect of Iranian PRP on prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB), oxidative stress biomarkers, and body composition in obese patients with NAFLD.

Methods

In the present double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial, 44 obese patients with NAFLD were randomly allocated to either Iranian PRP (1500 mg/d) or placebo (1500 mg/d) accompanied by a calorie-restricted diet (CRD) for eight weeks. PAB, oxidative stress biomarkers, and body composition were assessed at baseline and the end of the study.

Results

There was a significant reduction in PAB levels over the trial in both groups. However, the between-group difference was not significant at the endpoint. At the end of the study, the inter-group comparison showed a significant decrease in serum glutathione peroxidase level in the placebo group compared to the PRP group after adjusting for confounding variables based on models 1 (P=0.027) and 2 (P=0.028). No significant within- or between-group differences in other studied oxidative stress biomarkers were found. Moreover, no between-group differences were observed for body composition and dietary intakes of energy and antioxidant micronutrients.

Conclusion

Iranian PRP supplementation (1500 mg/d) for eight weeks could prevent the reduction of glutathione peroxidase levels compared to the control group. However, it could not affect other oxidative stress biomarkers, body composition, or dietary intakes of energy and antioxidant micronutrients.

The Different Predictive Effects of Multiple Body Fat Indexes on Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease

Purpose

The aim of this study was to comprehensively compare the predictive effect of 10 body fat indexes on MAFLD in different sex, age and BMI subgroups.

Patients and Methods

A total of 5403 physical examination data were included and divided into the MAFLD group (N=2632) and non-MAFLD group (N=2771). The differences and correlation of 10 promising indicators between the two groups were compared, including fatty liver index (FLI), hepatic steatosis index (HSI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral fat index (VAI), cardiometabolic index (CMI), body adiposity index (BAI), and triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), waist circumference index (WC), body mass index (BMI), waist to height ratio (WHtR). Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk of MAFLD under different adjustment conditions. The operating characteristic curve of different genders, BMI levels and age subgroups was plotted.

Results

Male gender, smoking, alcohol drinking, and higher age are risk factors for MAFLD. In addition to BAI, the other 9 indicators had a high correlation with MAFLD, the area under the curve (AUC) value was >0.7, and the prediction effect was better in females, BMI<24 kg/m2, age <35 years subgroup, among which FLI (AUC: 0.912, 95% CI: 0.905-0.920), LAP (AUC: 0.894, 95% CI: 0.8866-0.903), and HSI (AUC: 0.881, 95% CI: 0.872-0.890) have better prediction effects.

Conclusion

Our study confirmed the accuracy of body fat-related indexes in predicting MAFLD in people of different sexes, ages, and BMI levels. Among them, FLI, LAP and HSI have high predictive value and can be utilized as simple and cost-effective tools for screening MAFLD in clinical settings.

The association between the triglyceride-glucose index and bone turnover markers in osteoporotic fractures patients aged 50 and above who are hospitalized for surgical intervention: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Objective

To evaluate the correlation between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and bone turnover markers (BTMs) in osteoporotic fractures (OPFs) patients hospitalized for surgical intervention.

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 3558 OPFs patients hospitalized for surgical intervention between January 2017 and July 2022. The study obtained baseline values for various biomarkers and covariates, including fasting blood glucose, β-C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CTX), procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), triglycerides, age, sex, body mass index, smoking, drinking, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, aspartate aminotransferase, uric acid, the score of American society of anesthesiologists, homocysteine, parathyroid hormone, apolipoprotein B, apolipoprotein A, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium. Multiple linear regression, curve fitting, threshold effects, and subgroup analyses were also applied.

Results

After adjusting for covariates in the regression analysis, the results revealed a negative correlation between β-CTX and P1NP levels and the baseline TyG index. Specifically, a one-unit increase in the TyG index was associated with a reduction in β-CTX levels of -0.06 (95% CI: -0.10, -0.01; P-value = 0.012) and a reduction in P1NP levels of -4.70 (95% CI: -9.30, -0.09; P-value = 0.046). Additionally, the inflection points for the nonlinear correlation between the TyG index and β-CTX and P1NP were found to be K = 6.31 and K = 6.63, respectively.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated a negative, non-linear relationship among the TyG index, β-CTX and P1NP in OPFs patients hospitalized for surgical intervention. These findings suggest that elevated TyG index levels may adversely affect bone turnover, potentially contributing to the progression of OP.

Exploring Gender Differences in the Association Between TyG Index and COPD: A Cross-Sectional Study from NHANES 1999-2018

Purpose

This study examined gender differences in the association of Triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) index with the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly in a non-diabetic population.

Methods

The study leveraged data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), spanning from 1999 to 2018, with a cohort of 23,456 participants. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analyses were employed to explore the relationship between the TyG index and COPD prevalence.

Results

Statistical analyses revealed a significant positive association between the TyG index and COPD prevalence among non-diabetic women after adjustment for all covariates (OR=1.50; 95% CI, 1.08-2.08), supported by a linear relationship (P for non-linearity=0.298). No equivalent significant association was found in non-diabetic men (OR=1.00; 95% CI, 0.67-1.48). Within the diabetic group, the TyG index did not show a significant association with COPD prevalence, regardless of gender.

Conclusion

Our study reveals a significant positive correlation between the TyG index and COPD prevalence in the non-diabetic population, marked by notable gender differences.

Association between cardiometabolic index and hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

The cardiometabolic index (CMI) is a new type of obesity index that is based on a combination of lipid levels and abdominal obesity indicators. It is closely correlated with the occurrence of diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and other diseases, thus playing an important role in the screening of metabolic diseases. This is coupled with hepatic steatosis and fibrosis which are characterized by excessive liver fat deposition. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between CMI and hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis.

METHODS

A cross-sectional investigation was conducted using the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset to probe the relationship between CMI and hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis, while multiple linear regression models were used to test the linear association between CMI and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM). Smooth-fit curves and threshold effects analysis were used to describe the nonlinear relationships. Subgroup analyses were performed according to gender, age, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and smoking status.

RESULTS

A total of 3084 adults aged 18-80 years were included in this analysis, and after controlling for a variety of variables, there was a significant positive correlation between CMI and CAP [20.38 (16.27,24.49)]. When subgroups were analyzed, this positive correlation was found to be stronger in the female population than in the male (P for interaction = 0.0303). Furthermore, the association between CMI and CAP was nonlinear. Using multiple regression analysis, it was shown that the linear relationship between CMI and liver fibrosis was not significant [-0.09 (-0.47,0.29)].

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that elevated CMI levels are associated with hepatic steatosis, but that CMI is not linked to liver fibrosis. Larger prospective investigations are needed to confirm our findings.

Establishment and Evaluation of a Noninvasive Metabolism-Related Fatty Liver Screening and Dynamic Monitoring Model: Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Metabolically associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) insidiously affects people's health, and many models have been proposed for the evaluation of liver fibrosis. However, there is still a lack of noninvasive and sensitive models to screen MAFLD in high-risk populations.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to explore a new method for early screening of the public and establish a home-based tool for regular self-assessment and monitoring of MAFLD.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, there were 1758 eligible participants in the training set and 200 eligible participants in the testing set. Routine blood, blood biochemistry, and FibroScan tests were performed, and body composition was analyzed using a body composition instrument. Additionally, we recorded multiple factors including disease-related risk factors, the Forns index score, the hepatic steatosis index (HSI), the triglyceride glucose index, total body water (TBW), body fat mass (BFM), visceral fat area, waist-height ratio (WHtR), and basal metabolic rate. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the potential anthropometric indicators that have a predictive ability to screen for MAFLD. A new model, named the MAFLD Screening Index (MFSI), was established using binary logistic regression analysis, and BFM, WHtR, and TBW were included. A simple rating table, named the MAFLD Rating Table (MRT), was also established using these indicators.

RESULTS

The performance of the HSI (area under the curve [AUC]=0.873, specificity=76.8%, sensitivity=81.4%), WHtR (AUC=0.866, specificity=79.8%, sensitivity=80.8%), and BFM (AUC=0.842, specificity=76.9%, sensitivity=76.2%) in discriminating between the MAFLD group and non-fatty liver group was evaluated (P<.001). The AUC of the combined model including WHtR, HSI, and BFM values was 0.900 (specificity=81.8%, sensitivity=85.6%; P<.001). The MFSI was established based on better performance at screening MAFLD patients in the training set (AUC=0.896, specificity=83.8%, sensitivity=82.1%) and was confirmed in the testing set (AUC=0.917, specificity=89.8%, sensitivity=84.4%; P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The novel MFSI model was built using WHtR, BFM, and TBW to screen for early MAFLD. These body parameters can be easily obtained using a body fat scale at home, and the mobile device software can record specific values and perform calculations. MFSI had better performance than other models for early MAFLD screening. The new model showed strong power and stability and shows promise in the area of MAFLD detection and self-assessment. The MRT was a practical tool to assess disease alterations in real time.

Triglyceride-glucose index and combined indicators: effective indicators for screening NAFLD in snoring patients

AIMS

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common complication in snoring patients, especially in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA). Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index was a simple indicator of metabolic status and a surrogate marker of insulin resistance. This study aimed to explore the relationship between NAFLD and TyG index in snoring patients.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted. The successive snoring patients enrolled in the Sleep Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University and had abdominal ultrasonography were included. The clinical characteristics of patients in different quartile TyG groups were compared. The relationship of the TyG index and NAFLD were valued via logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline analysis. The value of TyG index in predicting NAFLD was determined by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve).

RESULTS

A total of 463 NAFLD cases were found among the 654 snoring patients. TyG index was a risk factor of NAFLD in snoring patients (OR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.71-3.36). The risk of NAFLD was much higher in patients with the highest quartile of TyG index (OR = 5.12, 95% CI = 2.85-9.22), compared with the lowest quartile group. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis showed a significant dose-response relationship between TyG index and risk of NAFLD (p for non-linearity < 0.001). A combination of TyG, neck circumference and ESS score presented the acceptable AUC for the detection of NAFLD in snoring patients (0.746, 95% CI 0.701-0.790, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The TyG index was a risk factor of NAFLD in snoring patients. A combination of TyG, neck circumferences and ESS score could act as a convenient and effective indicator for screening NAFLD in snoring patients.

Association between the triglyceride-glucose index and cognitive impairment in China: a community population-based cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Insulin resistance (IR) is a feature of metabolic syndrome and plays an important role in cognitive impairment (CI). The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a convenient and cost-effective surrogate for assessing IR. This study aimed to assess the association between the TyG index and CI.

METHODS

This community population-based cross-sectional study used a cluster-sampling methodology. All participants underwent the education-based Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and those with CI were identified using standard thresholds. The fasting blood triglyceride and glucose levels were measured in the morning, and the TyG index was calculated as ln (½ fasting triglyceride level [mg/dL] × fasting blood glucose level [mg/dL]). Multivariable logistic regression and subgroup analysis were used to assess the relationship between the TyG index and CI.

RESULTS

This study included 1484 subjects, of which 93 (6.27%) met the CI criteria. Multivariable logistic regression showed that CI incidence increased by 64% per unit increase in the TyG index (odds ratio [OR] = 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-2.63, p = 0.042). CI risk was 2.64-fold higher in the highest TyG index quartile compared to the lowest TyG index quartile (OR = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.19-5.85, p = 0.016). Finally, interaction analysis showed that sex, age, hypertension, and diabetes did not significantly affect the association between the TyG index and CI.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggested that an elevated TyG index was associated with a higher CI risk. Subjects with a higher TyG index should manage and treat at an early stage to alleviate the cognitive decline.

Predictive value of angiopoietin-like protein 8 in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and its progression: A case-control study

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is rapidly increasing, currently affecting approximately 25% of the global population. Liver fibrosis represents a crucial stage in the development of MAFLD, with advanced liver fibrosis elevating the risks of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Simple serum markers are less effective in diagnosing liver fibrosis compared to more complex markers. However, imaging techniques like transient elastography face limitations in clinical application due to equipment and technical constraints. Consequently, it is imperative to identify a straightforward yet effective method for assessing MAFLD-associated liver fibrosis.

AIM

To investigate the predictive value of angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8) in MAFLD and its progression.

METHODS

We analyzed 160 patients who underwent abdominal ultrasonography in the Endocrinology Department, Xiaogan Central Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, during September 2021-July 2022. Using abdominal ultrasonography and MAFLD diagnostic criteria, among the 160 patients, 80 patients (50%) were diagnosed with MAFLD. The MAFLD group was divided into the liver fibrosis group (n = 23) and non-liver fibrosis group (n = 57) by using a cut-off fibrosis-4 index ≥ 1.45. Logistical regression was used to analyze the risk of MAFLD and the risk factors for its progression. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the predictive value of serum ANGPTL8 in MAFLD and its progression.

RESULTS

Compared with non-MAFLD patients, MAFLD patients had higher serum ANGPTL8 and triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index (both P < 0.05). Serum ANGPTL8 (r = 0.576, P < 0.001) and TyG index (r = 0.473, P < 0.001) were positively correlated with MAFLD. Serum ANGPTL8 was a risk factor for MAFLD [odds ratio (OR): 1.123, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.066-1.184, P < 0.001). Serum ANGPTL8 and ANGPTL8 + TyG index predicted MAFLD [area under the curve (AUC): 0.832 and 0.886, respectively; both P < 0.05]. Compared with MAFLD patients without fibrosis, those with fibrosis had higher serum ANGPTL8 and TyG index (both P < 0.05), and both parameters were positively correlated with MAFLD-associated fibrosis. Elevated serum ANGPTL8 (OR: 1.093, 95%CI: 1.044-1.144, P < 0.001) and TyG index (OR: 2.383, 95%CI: 1.199-4.736, P < 0.013) were risk factors for MAFLD-associated fibrosis. Serum ANGPTL8 and ANGPTL8 + TyG index predicted MAFLD-associated fibrosis (AUC: 0.812 and 0.835, respectively; both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The serum levels of ANGPTL8 are elevated and positively correlated with MAFLD. They can serve as predictors for the risk of MAFLD and liver fibrosis, with the ANGPTL8 + TyG index potentially exhibiting even higher predictive value.

Application value of triglyceride-glucose index and triglyceride-glucose body mass index in evaluating the degree of hepatic steatosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND

The elevation of TyG is considered an important factor in promoting the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but its impact on the degree of liver steatosis remains unclear. This study aims to explore the relationship between TyG and TyG-related indices, such as triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI), with the degree of liver fat accumulation.

METHODS

From January 2021 to March 2022, 1171 participants underwent health check-ups, and all underwent FibroScan transient elastography. The analysis focused on identifying the factors that contribute to the onset of NAFLD and the degree of hepatic steatosis.

RESULTS

The predictive value of TyG-BMI (OR = 1.039, 95% CI 1.031-1.046) in triggering NAFLD development was greater than that of TyG alone. The areas under the curve for TyG-BMI and TyG were calculated at 0.808 and 0.720, respectively. TyG-BMI (OR = 1.034, P < 0.001) was identified as a main independent factor affecting hepatic steatosis severity. With each incremental increase in TyG-BMI, the likelihood of experiencing an increase in the extent of hepatic steatosis was 1.034 times higher than that of the preceding unit.

CONCLUSIONS

The TyG-BMI showed higher accuracy in predicting NAFLD than did the TyG, and was more closely linked to the severity of hepatic steatosis. Therefore, it can be included as a parameter in health management centers and should be widely used to screen and evaluate patients with NAFLD.

Triglyceride glucose-waist circumference: the optimum index to screen nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in non-obese adults

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is easily neglected in the non-obese population. TyG index (triglyceride glucose Index) and TG/HDL-c (triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) are new indicators to evaluate insulin resistance (IR). Fibroscan is a non-invasive way to assess hepatic steatosis [by control attenuation parameters (CAP)] and fibrosis [by liver stiffness measurement (LSM)].The purpose of this study was to explore the correlation of TyG and its combination with obesity indicators [TyG-waist circumference (WC), TyG-body mass index (BMI)] and TG/HDL-c with CAP and LSM.

METHOD

One thousand seven hundred seventy-six adults (age ≥ 20 years, BMI < 30 kg/m2) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2018 were included. The correlations of CAP and LSM to the indexes were assessed by generalized linear models.. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to evaluate the diagnostic capability of the indicators on NAFLD and liver stiffness.

RESULTS

Survey-weighted percentage of NAFLD in non-obese was 38.6%. In the fully adjusted models, there were positive associations of TyG, TyG-BMI, TyG-WC and TG/HDL-c to CAP, with the βs of 24.810, 0.704, 0.29 and 2.983 (all p < 0.05), respectively. There were positive associations of TyG, TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, and TG/HDL-c to NAFLD, with ORs of 3.387, 1.03, 1.010 and 1.281 ((all p < 0.05)).The positive association was detected for TG/HDL-c and TyG-WC and LSM with βs of 0.057 and 0.004(p = 0.021 and p = 0.003).TyG-WC were positively associated with liver stiffness with OR of 1.006(95%CI = 1.002, 1.012). Furthermore, the TyG-WC had the strongest diagnostic capability (ROC = 0.806; 95%CI: 0.785-0.826) on NAFLD in non-obese participants, with a specificity of 0.737 and sensitivity of 0.746.

CONCLUSION

In US non-obese population, the TyG, TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, and TG/HDL-c are positively correlated with CAP and NAFLD. TyG-WC has clinical importance in identifying NAFLD in the non-obese population.

Effect of Liver Fibrosis on Oral and Gut Microbiota in the Japanese General Population Determined by Evaluating the FibroScan-Aspartate Aminotransferase Score

The association between liver fibrosis and oral or gut microbiota has been studied before. However, epidemiological studies in the general population are limited owing to the difficulty of noninvasive liver-fibrosis assessment. FibroScan-asparate aminotransferase (FAST) scores can be used to accurately and non-invasively evaluate liver fibrosis. This study aimed to determine the association between liver fibrosis and oral or gut microbiota using the FAST score in the general population. After propensity score matching of 1059 participants based on sex, age, body mass index, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and triglyceride levels, 125 (non-liver-fibrosis group, 100; liver fibrosis group, 25) were included. The diversity of gut microbiota differed significantly between the two groups; however, no significant differences were noted in their oral microbiota. The liver fibrosis group showed an increase in the relative abundance of Fusobacteria strains and a decrease in the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium, with the presence of Fusicatenibacter in the gut microbiota. Feacalibacterium was not identified as an independent factor of liver fibrosis in adjusting the fatty liver index. In the general population, gut microbiota may be more involved in liver fibrosis than oral microbiota.

Association Between Sensitivity to Thyroid Hormones and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease in Euthyroid Subjects: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective

Thyroid hormones (THs) exert instrumental effects in regulating lipids metabolism. Whereas, research investigating the relationship between sensitivity indices to THs and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) have contradicted this. This study was designed to approach the correlation between sensitivity indices to THs and MAFLD in euthyroid subjects.

Methods

An overall sample of 6356 euthyroid participants were enrolled in a Chinese hospital. Free triiodothyronine to free thyroxine ratio (FT3/FT4), thyrotropin triiodothyronine resistance index (TT3RI), thyrotropin thyroxine resistance index (TT4RI), thyroid stimulating hormone index (TSHI) and thyroid feedback quantile-based indices (TFQIFT3 and TFQIFT4) were collected as sensitivity indicators to THs. Participants were split into two groups based on whether they suffered with MAFLD or not. And participants were categorized into quartiles based on sensitivity indicators to THs. The effects of sensitivity indices to THs on MAFLD were analyzed using regression analysis. Bootstrap was performed to assess the mediation effect of triglyceride glucose (TyG) index on the relationship between sensitivity parameters to THs and MAFLD.

Results

The incidence of MAFLD in euthyroid subjects was 34.47%. As FT3/FT4, TT3RI and TFQIFT3 levels rose, so did the MAFLD prevalence. After adjustment for confounders, logistic regression analyses indicated that the high-level FT3/FT4 and TFQIFT3 still remained risk factors for MAFLD. The relevance of FT3/FT4 and MAFLD was stronger among those whose age ≤ 40 years and had non-visceral obesity. And the interrelation between TFQIFT3 and MAFLD was stronger in subjects whose age ≤ 40 years. Mediation analyses suggested that TyG index had a noteworthy indirect impact on the relationship between FT3/FT4, TFQIFT3 and MAFLD.

Conclusion

Increased FT3/FT4 and TFQIFT3 were significantly related to MAFLD prevalence in populations with normal thyroid function. TyG index partly mediated the relevance between FT3/FT4, TFQIFT3 and MAFLD.

Leveraging the future of diagnosis and management of diabetes: From old indexes to new technologies

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is a heterogeneous and multifactorial disease. However, glycemia and glycated hemoglobin have been the focus of diabetes diagnosis and management for the last decades. As diabetes management goes far beyond glucose control, it has become clear that assessment of other biochemical parameters gives a much wider view of the metabolic state of each individual, enabling a precision medicine approach.

METHODS

In this review, we summarize and discuss indexes that have been used in epidemiological studies and in the clinical practice.

RESULTS

Indexes of insulin secretion, sensitivity/resistance and metabolism have been developed and validated over the years to account also with insulin, C-peptide, triglycerides or even anthropometric measures. Nevertheless, each one has their own objective and consequently, advantages and disadvantages for specific cases. Thus, we discuss how new technologies, namely new sensors but also new softwares/applications, can improve the diagnosis and management of diabetes, both for healthcare professionals but also for caretakers and, importantly, to promote the empowerment of people living with diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

In long-term, the solution for a better diabetes management would be a platform that allows to integrate all sorts of relevant information for the person with diabetes and for the healthcare practitioners, namely glucose, insulin and C-peptide or, in case of need, other parameters/indexes at home, sometimes more than once a day. This solution would allow a better and simpler disease management, more adequate therapeutics thereby improving patients' quality of life and reducing associated costs.

Prediction of MAFLD and NAFLD using different screening indexes: A cross-sectional study in U.S. adults

INTRODUCTION

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), has become the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. We aimed to explore the gender-related association between nine indexes (BMI/WC/VAI/LAP/WHtR/TyG/TyG-BMI/TyG-WC/TyG-WHtR) and MAFLD/NAFLD and examine their diagnostic utility for these conditions.

METHODS

Eligible participants were screened from the 2017-2018 cycle data of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to assess the predictive performance of 9 indexes for MAFLD/NAFLD.

RESULTS

Among the 809 eligible individuals, 478 had MAFLD and 499 had NAFLD. After adjusting for gender, age, ethnicity, FIPR and education level, positive associations with the risk of MAFLD/NAFLD were found for all the nine indexes. For female, TyG-WHtR presented the best performance in identifying MAFLD/NAFLD, with AUC of 0.845 (95% CI = 0.806-0.879) and 0.831 (95% CI = 0.791-0.867) respectively. For male, TyG-WC presented the best performance in identifying MAFLD/NAFLD, with AUC of 0.900 (95% CI = 0.867-0.927) and 0.855 (95% CI = 0.817-0.888) respectively.

CONCLUSION

BMI/WC/VAI/LAP/WHtR/TyG/TyG-BMI/TyG-WC/TyG-WHtR are important indexes to identify the risk of MAFLD and NAFLD.

Triglyceride-Glucose Index is Significantly Associated with the Risk of Hyperuricemia in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Purpose

The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a new index of insulin resistance (IR), and its association with hyperuricemia (HUA) is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether TyG is an independent risk factor for hyperuricemia (HUA) in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 461 patients with ultrasound-confirmed NAFLD and calculated the TyG index. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between the TyG index and HUA in NAFLD patients. The correlation between the TyG index and HUA was further confirmed by a restricted cubic spline. Furthermore, the stability of the association between TyG index and HUA was examined using subgroup analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate the predictive value of the TyG index on HUA. Multivariate linear regression was used to analyze the linear relationship between the TyG index and serum uric acid.

Results

A total of 166 HUA patients and 295 non-HUA patients were included in the study. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after controlling the confounding risk factors, TyG was still an independent risk factor for HUA (OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.38 -2.91, p < 0.001). Restricted cubic splines showed that HUA risk increased linearly with TyG across the entire TyG range. The ROC curve showed that TyG index was better than triglyceride in predicting HUA in NAFLD patients, with AUC values of 0.62 and 0.59, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that TyG index was significantly positively correlated with blood uric acid (B = 1.37, 95% CI: 0.67-2.08, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

TyG index is an independent risk factor for HUA in patients with NAFLD. The increase of the TyG index level is closely related to the occurrence and development of HUA in patients with NAFLD.

Association between the triglyceride–glucose index and chronic kidney disease in adults

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized as a progressive dysfunction of the kidney, and it might have a close relationship with insulin resistance. We utilized the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a reliable marker of insulin resistance, to evaluate the association between the TyG index and CKD in adults from the general population.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study obtaining data from the 2015-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) served as kidney function indicators. We defined CKD as the existence of either low eGFR (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² BSA) or albuminuria (UACR > 30 mg/g). Multivariate regressions, correlated subgroup analyses, and interaction terms were performed in this study.

RESULTS

For 4361 recruited participants, the mean TyG index was 8.60 ± 0.68, and the prevalence of CKD was 13.35%. Participants with a higher TyG index showed a higher UACR level (β = 25.10, 95% CI: 6.76, 43.44, P = 0.0074) and higher levels of CKD (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.59, P = 0.0006). The positive relationship between the TyG index and CKD became stronger and remained significant in the overweight (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.20, P = 0.0027) and obese (OR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.95, 3.15, P < 0.0001) groups and in people with diabetes (OR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.46, 2.56, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher TyG index was strongly associated with a higher UACR level and higher values of albuminuria and CKD, which might be useful in kidney function screening especially among people in disadvantageous socioeconomic conditions with no availability for direct measurement of kidney function. However, more well-designed studies are still needed to validate this relationship.

Triglyceride-Glucose Index for Early Prediction of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Meta-Analysis of 121,975 Individuals

Insulin resistance (IR) is a major contributor to the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has recently gained popularity for the assessment of IR and NAFLD due to its ease of acquisition and calculation. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the existing studies in the literature and provide a quantitative assessment of the significance of the TyG index in predicting the incidence of NAFLD. A comprehensive literature search in PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases from inception until 25 March 2022 was conducted. Published observational studies that evaluated the association between TyG index and NAFLD among the adult population and reported the hazard ratio (HR) or odds ratio (OR) for this association after multivariate analysis were included. The random-effects model was used as the primary statistical analysis model in the estimation of pooled ORs and HRs with the corresponding confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 17 observational studies, including 121,975 participants, were included. For studies analyzing the TyG index as a categorical variable, both pooled OR (6.00, CI 4.12–8.74) and HR (1.70, CI 1.28–2.27) were significant for the association between TyG index and incident NAFLD. For studies analyzing the TyG index as a continuous variable, pooled OR (2.25, CI 1.66–3.04) showed similar results. Consistent results were obtained in subgroup analyses according to the study design, sample size, ethnicity, and diabetic status. In conclusion, our meta-analysis demonstrates that a higher TyG index is associated with higher odds of NAFLD. TyG index may serve as an independent predictive tool to screen patients at high risk of NAFLD in clinical practice, especially in primary care settings. Patients with a high TyG index should be referred for a liver ultrasound and start intense lifestyle modifications. However, further large-scale prospective cohort studies are necessary to validate our findings.

The triglyceride and glucose index and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A dose-response meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The triglyceride and glucose (TyG) index is associated with the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the dose-response relationship between them is still unknown. We conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis to study the dose-response association between the TyG index and the risk of NAFLD.

METHODS

We systematically searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase databases until July 2022 for relevant studies. The robust error meta-regression method was used to investigate the dose-response association between the TyG index and NAFLD. Summary relative risks (ORs) and 95% CIs were estimated by using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

A total of 4 cohort and 8 cross-sectional studies were included, with 28,788 NAFLD cases among the 105,365 participants. A positive association for the risk of NAFLD was observed for each additional unit of the TyG index with a linear association (p=0.82), and the summary OR was 2.84 (95% CI, 2.01-4.01). In the subgroup analyses, a stronger association of the TyG index with NAFLD was shown in females than in males (men: OR=2.97, 95% CI 2.55-3.46, women: OR=4.80, 95% CI 3.90-5.90, P_subgroup<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The TyG index may be a novel independent risk factor for NAFLD beyond traditional risk factors.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier (CRD42022347813).

Triglyceride and glucose index: a useful tool for non-alcoholic liver disease assessed by liver biopsy in patients with metabolic syndrome?

INTRODUCTION

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with metabolic impairments, being a component of metabolic syndrome. Considering the involvement of fat accumulation and insulin resistance in NAFLD, triglyceride and glucose (TyG) index was proposed as a marker of NAFLD progression. The "gold standard" for the evaluation of liver lesions characteristic for NAFLD remains the liver biopsy. The aim of this study was to establish the links between TyG index, assessing insulin resistance, and histopathological lesions of liver samples obtained by liver biopsy in patients with metabolic syndrome.

PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a study over a period of three years, including 113 adult patients with metabolic syndrome in whom hepatic disorders were assessed by liver biopsy and insulin resistance was evaluated by TyG index.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

In our study, steatosis had a frequency of 92.03%, being identified 26 cases with mild steatosis, 48 with moderate steatosis and 31 with severe steatosis. Regarding non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the frequency of this disorder in our study group was 29.2% in the subjects with liver steatosis, while liver fibrosis had a frequency of 53.09%. When we analyzed the relationships between TyG index and the presence of each type of lesion necessary for NASH diagnosis, we obtained statistically significant differences for the presence of hepatocyte ballooning (p=0.01) and a high statistically significance for the NAFLD activity score (NAS) (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

TyG index is a facile tool that can be used to identify patients at risk for advanced NAFLD lesions evaluated by liver biopsy.