Association between TyG-related parameters and NAFLD risk in Japanese non-obese population

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) constitutes a substantial proportion of cases among the non-obese population, yet it is frequently overlooked. Studies investigating the association between triglyceride-glucose (TyG)-related parameters (TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, TyG-WHtR) and NAFLD in non-obese individuals is limited. Thus, this study aims to investigate the association between TyG-related parameters and NAFLD in non-obese individuals to improve early detection and intervention strategies for NAFLD in this population. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the NAFLD database, including 11,987 participants who underwent health examinations between 2004 and 2015. Logistic regression models were employed to evaluate the relationship between TyG-related parameters and NAFLD risk, incorporating cubic spline functions and smooth curve fitting to identify potential nonlinear relationships. ROC curve analysis was conducted to assess the predictive performance of thee parameters. After controlling for confounding variables, the incidence of NAFLD in non-obese individuals increased with higher TyG-related parameters. Notably, nonlinear relationships between the TyG index and its related parameters regarding NAFLD risk were identified. The areas under the ROC curve for the TyG index and its related parameters were 0.7984, 0.8553, 0.8584, and 0.8353, respectively. Importantly, the predictive ability of the TyG index and its related parameters was stronger in the female population than in that of males. A positive and nonlinear relationship exists between the TyG-related parameters in relation to the risk of NAFLD. The TyG-related parameters exhibit predictive capabilities for NAFLD, with TyG-related parameters demonstrating greater strength than the TyG index itself.