Relationship Between Metabolic Age Determined by Bioimpedance and Insulin Resistance Risk Scales in Spanish Workers

Abstract

Introduction: Metabolic age (MA) is the difference between an individual's actual age and the age of their body based on physiological and biological factors. It is an indicator that reflects a person's physical and biological state, regardless of chronological age. Insulin resistance (IR) is a health disorder in which tissues exhibit a reduced response to the circulating glucose uptake stimulated by insulin. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between MA, determined through bioelectrical impedance analysis, and the risk of IR, assessed using validated scales, in a cohort of Spanish workers. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 8590 Spanish workers to assess the association between MA and a set of sociodemographic variables, health habits, and IR risk scales such as the Triglyceride-Glucose Index (TyG Index), Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance (METS-IR), and Single Point Insulin Sensitivity Estimator (SPISE). Results: All analyzed variables were associated with MA values, with the strongest associations observed for IR risk scale values (OR 4.88 [95% CI 4.12-5.65] for METS-IR, 4.42 [95% CI 3.70-5.15] for SPISE, and 3.42 [95% CI 2.97-3.87] for the TyG Index) and physical activity. Conclusions: Metabolic age is influenced by sociodemographic variables such as age, sex, and social class; health habits such as smoking, physical activity, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet; and by IR risk scale values.

Keywords: Mediterranean diet; insulin resistance; metabolic age; physical activity; smoking; sociodemographic variables.

Figure 1

PRISMA flowchart of participants in this study.

Figure 2

ROC curves. TyG: Triglyceride–Glucose Index. METS-IR: Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance. SPISE-IR: Single Point Insulin Sensitivity Estimator.