Advanced search

Vol 12, No 4 (2023)
Observation letter
Published online: 2023-08-09

open access

View PDF Download PDF file
Page views 580
Article views/downloads 355
Get Citation

Connect on Social Media

Connect on Social Media

OBSERVATION LETTER

ISSN 2450–7458
e-ISSN 2450–8187

Novel Formulas Derived from Triglyceride–Glucose Index for Assessment of Insulin Resistance in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Marwan S. M. Al-Nimer
Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Diyala, Baqubah, Iraq

Address for correspondence:

Emeritus Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics

University of Diyala

32001 Baqubah, Iraq

phone: + 964 7902600291

e-mail: alnimermarwan@ymail.com

Clinical Diabetology 2023, 12; 4: 272–274

DOI: 10.5603/DK.a2023.0029

Received: 15.07.2023 Accepted: 15.07.2023

Early publication date: 9.08.2023

Introduction

The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) can be used to diagnose IR. The HOMA-IR cut-off value varied according to population and related disorders, with a value of > 2.9 indicating IR [1]. Low-grade chronic inflammation is a common pathogenic condition linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D) and insulin resistance (IR) [2]. The triglyceride–glucose index (TYGI) is a valuable biomarker for measuring insulin resistance, and some research suggests that it is superior to the HOMA-IR [3].

Objective

The goal of this study is to develop a new index for assessing insulin resistance in T2D patients by replacing the glucose molecule with liver enzymes and inflammatory markers in the TYGI.

Materials and methods

This observational study was conducted at the College of Medicine, University of Diyala, between Janu- ary 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022. The information was gathered from diabetes clinics and centers. The laboratory blood chemistry (lipid profiles, glycemic indices, liver enzymes, and inflammatory biomarkers) was obtained from patients’ records.

HOMA-IR was calculated using the following equation:

TyGI was calculated using the following equation:

The triglyceride–high sensitivity C-reactive protein (TyCRPI), triglyceride–interleukin-6 (TyIL6 I), and triglyceride–alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate-to-aminotransferase (AST) were calculated using the abovementioned equation, but instead of fasting glucose, the hs-CRP, IL-6, ALT, and AST were substituted, respectively.

The ALT-to-TG (ALTyR) and AST-to-TG (ASTyR) ratios were calculated by using the following equation:

Data were analyzed using the statistical package SPSS version 24 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA).

Results

Of 112 T2D patients, 94 had a HOMA-IR of ≥ 3.0 (n = 94) and 18 had a HOMA-IR of < 3.0. Table 1 shows that the mean values of TyIL6I, TYASI, and IL-6 were significantly higher in patients with HOMA-IR ≥ 3.0 compared with HOMA-IR < 3.0. Table 2 shows that TyIL6I at a cutoff value of 9.2 is a significant marker of IR with a sensitivity of 85.1%, a specificity of 61.1%, and a J-statistic of 0.462. The area under the curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (C.I.) of TyIL6I were significantly different (p = 0.012) accounting for 0.687 (0.565–0.808).

Table 1. Comparison between the Triglycerides Derived Indexes and Ratios at a Cut-Off Value of Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance at 3.0

Variables

HOMA-IR

HOMA-IR < 3.0 (n = 18)

P1-value ≥ 3.0 (n = 94)

P2-value

Glucose

209.4 ± 69.0

217.5 ± 68.3

0.645

0.915

Triglycerides

137.9 ± 39.7

161.4 ± 82.2

0.239

0.552

C-reactive protein

3.6 ± 1.8

2.8 ± 1.6

0.059

0.111

Interleukin-6

154.0 ± 46.1

206.1 ± 96.0

0.027

0.001

ALT

13.0 ± 5.8

15.4 ± 7.1

0.174

0.224

AST

15.2 ± 4.5

18.0 ± 7.2

0.104

0.156

TyGI

9.48 ± 0.44

9.62 ± 0.63

0.390

0.524

TyCRPI

5.25 ± 0.67

5.07 ± 0.8

0.381

0.375

TyIL6I

9.19 ± 0.45

9.54 ± 0.55

0.013

0.012

TyALI

6.66 ± 0.71

6.92 ± 0.58

0.092

0.211

TyASI

6.88 ± 0.42

7.09 ± 0.45

0.66

0.044

ALTyR

2.61 ± 1.08

3.15 ± 1.55

0.163

0.197

ASTyR

3.10 ± 0.87

3.72 ± 1.66

0.123

0.249
The results are expressed as mean ± SD. P1-value was calculated using two-tailed independent two sample t-test (assuming equal variance) and P2-value was calculated by independent samples Mann Whitney U test
ALT — alanine aminotransferase; ALTTyR — alanine aminotransferase-to-triglyceride ratio; AST — aspartate aminotransferase; ASTRyR — aspartate amino-transferase-to-triglyceride ratio; TYALI — triglyceride–alanine aminotransferase index; TYASI — triglyceride–aspartate aminotransferase index; TyCRP — triglyceride–high sensitivity C-reactive protein; TYGI — triglyceride–glucose index; TYIL6I — triglyceride–interleukin 6 index

\

Table 2. Statistical Analysis of the Variables at a Cut-Off Value of HOMA-IR of ≥ 3.0

Cutoff
value

Odds ratio

Sensitivity

Specificity

Positive
predictive
Value

Negative
predictive
Value

Youden’s
index

Area under
curve

TyGI

9.25

0.610
(0.185–2.009)

82.1
(71.7–89.8)

11.8
(3.3–27.5)

68.1
(64.5–71.5)

22.2
(9.2–44.6)

–0.06

0.548
(0.423–0.672)

TyCRPI

4.5

0.993
(0.295–3.339)

83.9
(74.5–90.9)

16.0
(4.5–36.1)

77.7
(74.1–80.9)

22.2
(9.4–44.2)

–0.01

0.434
(0.298–0.570)

TyIL6I

9.2

8.98*
(2.975–27.104)

85.1
(76.3–91.6)

61.1
(35.8–82.7)

83.9
(75.8–90.2)

92.0
(86.4–95.4)

0.462

0.687
(0.565–0.808)†

TyALI

6.5

1.179
(0.402–3.454)

70.2
(59.9–79.2)

33.3
(13.3–59.0)

84.6
(79.5–88.7)

64.3
(54.7–73.1)

0.035

0.593
(0.434–0.753)

TyASI

7.1

2.372
(0.821–6.852)

54.3
(43.7–64.6)

66.7
(41.0–86.7)

89.5
(81.2–94.4)

21.8
(15.8–29.3)

0.21

0.650
(0.521–0.780)††

ALTyR

2.0

3.378**
(1.168–9.771)

80.9
(71.4–88.2)

44.4
(21.5–69.2)

88.4
(83.3–92.1)

30.8
(18.6–46.3)

0.25

0.596
(0.438–0.755)

ASTyR

2.6

3.273***
(1.157–9.260)

76.6
(66.7–84.7)

50.0
(26.0–74.0)

88.9
(83.3–92.8)

29.0
(18.5–80.4)

0.27

0.586
(0.463–0.709)
The results were presents as absolute numbers (95% confidence interval); *p < 0.001; **p = 0.025; *** p = 0.026; †p = 0.012; †† p = 0.044
ALTTyR — alanine aminotransferase-to-triglyceride ratio; ASTRyR — aspartate aminotransferase-to-triglyceride ratio; TYALI — triglyceride–alanine aminotransferase index; TYASI — triglyceride–aspartate aminotransferase index; TyCRP — triglyceride–high sensitivity C-reactive protein; TYGI — triglyceride–glucose index; TYIL6I — triglyceride–interleukin 6 index

Discussion

The results showed that the formulation of an equation of inflammatory biomarkers, liver enzymes, and triglycerides could be applicable for the assessment of IR. Previous studies showed a non-significant correlation between TYGI and inflammatory indices or liver enzymes, e.g., CRP, IL-6 [4, 5]. The odd ratios of the formulated equations in this study (which included TG, IL-6, AST, and ALT) were significantly higher in diabetic patients with HOMA-IR > 3 compared with those with HOMA-IR < 3.0, and the best results were observed with TyIL6I compared with other indices and ratios. It concludes that using the natural logarithm (Ln) of triglyceride value with inflammatory markers and liver enzymes could provide new indices in the assessment of insulin resistance. The Ln TG-to-IL-6 index is a significant associated biomarker with a HOMA-IR value of more than three.

Funding

The author did not receive any financial support.

Conflict of interests

None declared.

References

  1. Gobato AO, Vasques AC, Zambon MP, et al. Metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in obese adolescents. Rev Paul Pediatr. 2014; 32(1): 55–62, doi: 10.1590/s0103-05822014000100010, indexed in Pubmed: 24676191.
  2. Matulewicz N, Karczewska-Kupczewska M. Insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2016; 70(0): 1245–1258, indexed in Pubmed: 28026827.
  3. Simental-Mendía LE, Rodríguez-Morán M, Guerrero-Romero F. The product of fasting glucose and triglycerides as surrogate for identifying insulin resistance in apparently healthy subjects. Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2008; 6(4): 299–304, doi: 10.1089/met.2008.0034, indexed in Pubmed: 19067533.
  4. Xiao S, Wang X, Zhang G, et al. Association of Systemic Immune Inflammation Index with Estimated Pulse Wave Velocity, Atherogenic Index of Plasma, Triglyceride-Glucose Index, and Cardiovascular Disease: A Large Cross-Sectional Study. Mediators Inflamm. 2023; 2023: 1966680, doi: 10.1155/2023/1966680, indexed in Pubmed: 36846196.
  5. Minato-Inokawa S, Tsuboi-Kaji A, Honda M, et al. Associations of alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase with insulin resistance and ß-cell function in women. Sci Rep. 2023; 13(1): 7853, doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-35001-1, indexed in Pubmed: 37188859.

About cookies

Necessary cookies

Allways active

These cookies are necessary for the proper display and operation of the website. Blocking them may cause the website to malfunction.

Analytical cookies

As part of our website, we use analytical tools, such as Google Analytics, that allow us to verify website traffic. These tools may require the use of cookies.

Community cookies

These are cookies associated with the social networks we use. Accepting them will allow us to associate your visit to the site with our social media profiles.

Marketing cookies

These are cookies responsible for carrying out advertising and marketing activities - consenting to their use will allow us to target you with advertisements based on your previous activities within our website.

Copyright © 2023-2024 Via Medica Regulations Cookie policy Privacy Statement Legal Note