FIB-4 index is a marker for a subsequent decrease in insulin secretion in a non-diabetic Japanese population.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Hepatology
• Metabolic Syndrome

Background:

• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes (DM).
• Early detection of NAFLD is vital for preventing incident DM.
• The FIB-4 index is a validated biomarker for assessing NAFLD severity and may serve as an early indicator for DM risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the FIB-4 index and changes in glucose metabolism markers with aging.
• To determine if the FIB-4 index can predict future declines in insulin secretion in a non-diabetic population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study of 1,268 non-diabetic Japanese individuals (Iwaki study, 2014-2017).
• A longitudinal study of 439 participants to assess changes in insulin secretion and resistance over 3 years.
• Analysis of FIB-4 index correlations with homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) indices (HOMA-β and HOMA-R).

Main Results:

• The FIB-4 index showed significant correlations with HOMA-β and HOMA-R in the cross-sectional analysis.
• In the longitudinal study, the FIB-4 index was significantly associated with changes in HOMA-β (insulin secretion) but not HOMA-R (insulin resistance).
• A FIB-4 index cut-off value of 1.592 predicted a 2.22-fold increased risk of decreased insulin secretion.

Conclusions:

• The FIB-4 index may serve as a valuable predictor of subsequent decreases in insulin secretion.
• This finding is particularly relevant for non-diabetic Japanese populations.
• The FIB-4 index could aid in identifying individuals at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes.