HOMA-IR and TyG index differ for their relationship with dietary, anthropometric, inflammatory factors and capacity to predict cardiovascular risk

Abstract

Background

HOMA-IR and the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index) are surrogate indexes of insulin resistance. However, it remains to elucidate how HOMA-IR and the TyG index compare for their relationship with cardiometabolic health.

Aim

This study aimed at comparing HOMA-IR and the TyG index with regard to their relationship with anthropometric, dietary and inflammatory factors as well as ability to predict cardiovascular risk.

Methods

438 subjects aged 55–80 years, underwent anthropometric, metabolic and nutritional characterisation. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the association between the parameters of interest. Predictors of HOMA-IR, the TyG index and the 10-year risk of cardiovascular events were investigated using stepwise multivariable regression analysis.

Results

HOMA-IR and TyG index correlated positively with body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, interleukin-18 and C-reactive protein. However, only HOMA-IR correlated with dietary factors.

After adjusting for age and sex, waist circumference and interleukin-18 were stronger predictors of HOMA-IR compared to the TyG index. Instead, the TyG index, but not HOMA-IR, emerged as a predictor of cardiovascular risk.

Conclusions

The TyG index represents a better predictor of cardiovascular risk compared to HOMA-IR which, instead, exhibits a stronger relationship with anthropometric, inflammatory and nutritional variables.