Associations of lipid parameters with insulin resistance and diabetes: A population-based study

A dramatic gap exists between the clinical practice and guidelines for the dyslipidemia control in patients with diabetes. It is still uncertain which routinely available lipid measure is more applicable in estimation of insulin sensitivity and blood glucose control. The present study aims to investigate associations of routine lipid profiles with insulin resistance and diabetes, respectively.

We conducted a population-based study in 9764 Chinese participants. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was calculated to estimate insulin sensitivity. Diabetes was diagnosed according to the 1999 World Health Organization diagnostic criteria.

Participants with insulin resistance or diabetes presented with significantly higher triglycerides (TG), Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Non-HDL-C), Non-HDL-C/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C and lower HDL-C when compared with control subjects (all P < 0.0001). Such lipid measures were significantly correlated with fasting insulin, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) 2 h glucose and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in Pearson's correlation analysis and multivariate linear regression analysis (all P < 0.0001). In logistic regression analysis, subjects were more likely to have prevalent insulin resistance and diabetes with the elevated quartiles of TG, Non-HDL-C, Non-HDL-C/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C (all P < 0.05). TG/HDL-C ratio, compare with other lipid parameters, have shown the strongest correlation with increased odds of insulin resistance and diabetes.

Our study suggests a discordant association of lipid parameters with blood glucose level and TG/HDL-C is a better marker for evaluating insulin resistance and diabetes in Chinese population when compared with other routine lipid measures.