The triglyceride-glucose index as an adiposity marker and a predictor of fat loss induced by a low-calorie diet.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the putative role of the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index) computed as ln[TG (mg/dl) × glucose (mg/dl)/2] and derived proxies as predictors of adiposity and weight loss changes after a low-calorie diet (LCD) intervention.

METHODS

A total of 744 adult participants from the multicentre DIOGenes intervention study were prescribed a LCD (800 kcal/day) during 8 weeks. Body composition and fat content at baseline and after 8 weeks were estimated by DEXA/BIA. A multivariate analysis approach was used to estimate the difference in ΔWeight (kg), ΔBMI (kg/m ) or ΔFat (%) between the basal value (point 1) and after 8 weeks following a LCD (point 2), respectively. The TyG index at baseline (TyG ), after following the LCD for 8 weeks (TyG ) or the TyG index differences between both time points (ΔTyG ) were analysed as predictors of weight and fat changes.

RESULTS

TyG was associated with ΔWeight (kg) and ΔBMI (kg/m ), with β = 0.812 (p = .017) and β = 0.265 (p = .018), respectively. Also, TyG  values were inversely related to ΔFat (%), β = -1.473 (p = .015). Moreover, ΔTyG was associated with ΔWeight (kg) and ΔFat (%), β = 0.689 (p = .045) and β = 1.764 (p = .002), respectively. Furthermore, an association between TyG and resistance to fat loss was found (p = .015).

CONCLUSION

TyG index is a good predictor of weight loss induced by LCD. Moreover, TyG was closely related to resistance to fat loss, while ΔTyG  values were positively associated with body fat changes. Therefore, TyG index and derived estimations could be used as markers of individualized responses to energy restriction and a surrogate of body composition outcomes in clinical/epidemiological settings in obesity conditions.