Comparison of the Triglyceride Glucose Index and Modified Triglyceride Glucose Indices to Predict Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Youths

Abstract

Objective: To assess the associations between the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and modified TyG indices with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and evaluate their ability as predictors of NAFLD in youths.

Study design: We analyzed the cross-sectional data of 3728 individuals aged 10-19 years using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative survey. Logistic regression analysis was performed, and ORs and 95% CIs of tertiles 2 and 3 for each variable for predicting NAFLD were calculated and compared with those of tertile 1 as the reference. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the ability of each variable for NAFLD prediction.

Results: All TyG and modified TyG indices exhibited progressively increased ORs and 95% CIs for NAFLD across all tertiles (all P < .001). In addition, all TyG and modified TyG indices significantly predicted NAFLD through ROC curves. All modified TyG indices were superior to the TyG index for predicting NAFLD in all subjects and in males. Among females, the TyG-waist-to-height ratio was superior to the TyG index, TyG-body mass index (BMI), and TyG-waist circumference (WC), and the TyG-BMI SDS and TyG-WC were superior to the TyG index.

Conclusions: The TyG and modified TyG indices are markers for NAFLD prediction in youths, and the modified TyG indices are superior to the TyG index. Modified TyG indices have the potential to be simple and cost-effective markers in screening for NAFLD in youths.

Keywords: adolescent; biomarkers; child; insulin resistance.