Relationship between triglyceride-glucose index and gallstones risk: a population-based study

Area of Science:

• Digestive System Health
• Metabolic Dysfunction Research
• Biomarker Analysis

Background:

• Gallstones are a prevalent digestive issue linked to metabolic problems like obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and diabetes.
• The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a novel, accessible indicator for assessing insulin resistance and metabolic health.
• No prior studies have investigated the relationship between the TyG index and gallstone risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the risk of developing gallstones.
• To determine if the TyG index can serve as a predictor for gallstone formation.
• To explore potential clinical utility of the TyG index in managing gallstone risk.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2017-2020).
• Employed logistic regression (logit model) to analyze the connection between TyG index and gallstone risk.
• Applied restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis to assess non-linear relationships and conducted sensitivity analyses.

Main Results:

• Included 4544 participants; a higher TyG index group showed 1.6 times the risk of gallstones compared to the low group.
• Identified a potential TyG index cut-off of 6.19, above which each unit increase correlated with a 40% heightened gallstone risk.
• RCS analysis confirmed a linear association; significant interactions were noted with smoking, alcohol, and diabetes history.

Conclusions:

• This study is the first to establish a positive correlation between the TyG index and gallstone risk.
• An elevated TyG index is associated with an increased likelihood of gallstones, with a 40% risk increase per unit.
• The TyG index shows promise for clinical application due to its ease of measurement and accessibility.