title: Triglycerides and glucose index: a useful indicator of insulin resistance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Insulin resistance assessment requires sophisticated methodology of difficult application. Therefore, different estimators for this condition have been suggested. The aim of this study was to evaluate the triglycerides and glucose (TyG) index as a marker of insulin resistance and to compare it to the triglycerides/HDL cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C), in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted on 525 adults of a population from Bahia Blanca, Argentina, who were divided into two groups: with MS (n=89) and without MS (n=436). The discriminating capacities for MS of the TyG index, calculated as Ln (TG [mg/dL] x glucose [mg/dL]/2), and the TG/HDL-C ratio were evaluated. Pre-test probability for MS was 30%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean value of the TyG index was higher in the group with MS as compared to the group without MS and its correlation with the TG/HDL-C ratio was good. The cut-off values for MS in the overall population were 8.8 for the TyG index (sensitivity=79%, specificity=86%), and 2.4 for the TG/HDL-C ratio (sensitivity=88%, specificity=72%). The positive likelihood ratios and post-test probabilities for these parameters were 5.8 vs 3.1 and 72% vs 58% respectively. The cut-off point for the TyG index was 8.8 in men and 8.7 in women; the respective values for TG/C-HDL were 3.1 in men and 2.2 in women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The TyG index was a good discriminant of MS. Its simple calculation warrants its further study as an alternative marker of insulin resistance.
authors.affiliation: Bioquímica Clínica I. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.affiliation: Bioquímica Clínica I. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Silvia Fabiana
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Benozzi
authors.affiliation: Hospital Municipal de Agudos "Dr. Leónidas Lucero", Bahía Blanca, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perruzza
authors.affiliation: Bioquímica Clínica I. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hospital Municipal de Agudos "Dr. Leónidas Lucero", Bahía Blanca, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: grapen@uns.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Graciela Laura
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Pennacchiotti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D000886:Anthropometry; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Insulin resistance; Insulinorresistencia; Metabolic syndrome; Síndrome metabólico; Triglycerides and glucose index; Índice triglicéridos y glucosa