The triglyceride and glucose index (TyG) is an effective biomarker to identify nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

BackgroundThe triglyceride and glucose index (TyG) has been proposed as a marker of insulin resistance. We aimed to investigate the ability of TyG, through comparing with the predictive value of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), to identify individuals at risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in a Chinese health examination cohort of 10 761 people aged above 20 years. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasonography.ResultsCompared with the participants in the lowest quartile of TyG, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for NAFLD were 1.8 (1.5–2.1), 3.0 (2.5–3.5), and 6.3 (5.3–7.5) for those in the second, the third, and the fourth quartile of TyG, whereas the corresponding ORs (95% CI) for NAFLD were 1.5 (1.3–1.7), 1.9 (1.6–2.2), and 3.1 (2.6–3.7) for the upper three quartiles of ALT. These results suggested that TyG was superior to ALT in association with NAFLD risk. According to the ROC analysis, the optimal cut-off point of TyG for NAFLD was 8.5 and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.782 (95% CI 0.773–0.790), with 72.2 and 70.5% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. The AUC of TyG was larger than that of ALT (0.715 (95% CI 0.705–0.725), P for difference <0.0001), whereas the largest AUC was obtained when adding TyG to ALT (0.804 (95% CI 0.795–0.812), P for difference <0.0001).ConclusionsTyG is effective to identify individuals at risk for NAFLD. A TyG threshold of 8.5 was highly sensitive for detecting NAFLD subjects and may be suitable as a diagnostic criterion for NAFLD in Chinese adults.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12944-017-0409-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Lipid accumulation product independently correlate with hepatic steatosis quantified by controlled attenuation parameter in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

“…TyG is a simple and clinically useful surrogate marker of HOMA-IR in apparently healthy individuals (39). In a cross-sectional study enrolled asymptomatic women aged 20 to 65 years, Simental-Mendía et al (40) observed that TyG could screen simple steatosis and NASH, as well as that in another cross-sectional study conducted by Zhang et al (41). However, in another cross-sectional study, TyG did not present significant correlations with the presence of NAFLD (42).…”

Fasting triglycerides and glucose index is more suitable for the identification of metabolically unhealthy individuals in the Chinese adult population: A nationwide study

“…compared the TyG index with the euglycemic‐hyperinsulinemic clamp test, and suggested that TyG could be useful for the identification of individuals with decreased insulin sensitivity in 2010 . A series of cohort and cross‐sectional studies confirmed a strong correlation between the TyG index and IR, type 2 diabetes mellitus, MetS, hypertension, cardiovascular events and fatty liver both in China and elsewhere. Published studies have shown that the TyG index is helpful for the prediction and early identification of individuals at high risk of cardiometabolic diseases.…”

Hepatoprotective Effect of Cranberry Nutraceutical Extract in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Model in Rats: Impact on Insulin Resistance and Nrf-2 Expression

“…The Triglyceride glucose index (TyG index) seems to be an interesting marker to predict NASH or fibrosis in obese patients, Moreover, it has been recognized as an insulin resistance marker (Zhang et al, 2017). In the HFCD group, the level of the TyG index was significantly raised in comparison to the control group.…”