The Role of the Triglyceride-Glucose Index as a Biomarker of Cardio-Metabolic Syndromes

Authors

Verena Gounden
Sridevi Devaraj
Ishwarlal Jialal

Publication Date

12-23-2024

Journal

Lipids in Health and Disease

DOI

10.1186/s12944-024-02412-6

PMID

39716258

PMCID

PMC11664894

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

12-23-2024

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

Humans, Biomarkers, Blood Glucose, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome, Triglycerides, Triglyceride-glucose index, Cardiovascular disease, Metabolic syndrome, Insulin resistance, Diabetes

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index represents a simple, cost-effective, and valid proxy for insulin resistance. This surrogate marker has also been proposed as a predictor of metabolic and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this descriptive review, we aimed to assess the utility of the TyG index as a predictive biomarker of cardiometabolic diseases.

METHODS: A search was conducted in PubMed, and Web of Science to identify cross-sectional and more importantly prospective studies examining the use of the TyG index as a predictive biomarker. The following terms were utilized in addition to the TyG index: "insulin resistance", "metabolic syndrome", "diabetes"; "cardiovascular diseases".

RESULTS: This descriptive review included thirty prospective studies in addition to cross-sectional studies. Following adjustment for confounding variables, an elevated TyG index was associated with a significantly increased risk for the development of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), Type 2 Diabetes, hypertension, and CVD. Also in limited studies, the TyG index was associated with endothelial dysfunction, increased oxidative stress and a pro-inflammatory phenotype.

CONCLUSION: Overall, our findings support the use of the TyG index as a valid biomarker to assess the risk of developing MetS, T2DM, as well as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.