Association between triglyceride glucose-body mass index and chronic diarrhea: A cross-sectional study of NHANES...

Insulin resistance (IR) and obesity are reported to impair physiological processes in the intestinal system, but associations between triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI), a marker of IR and obesity, and chronic diarrhea (CD) remain unclear. Thus, this study explored such relationship to provide novel insights for CD management.

This cross-sectional study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2010. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed on weighted data to examined potential associations between TyG-BMI and CD. Additionally, subgroup analyses and interaction tests were performed.

This research encompassed 5354 participants, including 416 with CD. In univariate logistic regression analyses, participants with high TyG-BMI had a significantly higher risk of CD (per 10 units, OR=1.041, 95% CI: 1.027-1.055). This connection was consistent (per 10 units, OR=1.038, 95% CI: 1.019-1.057) after adjusting for all confounding covariates. The smoothed curve fitting analysis and threshold effect analysis revealed a stronger positive association between TyG-BMI and chronic diarrhea at lower TyG-BMI levels (<247.15, per 10 units: OR=1.098, 95% CI: 1.040-1.161 vs >247.15: OR=1.024, 95% CI: 1.002-1.048). Furthermore, subgroup analyses and interaction tests suggested that the correlation between TyG-BMI and CD was more pronounced in those aged 20 to 44 years (per 10 units, OR=1.072, 95% CI: 1.043-1.103) or non-Hispanic whites (per 10 units, OR=1.068, 95% CI: 1.041-1.097).

This cross-sectional study revealed that TyG-BMI is positively associated with the risk of CD in US adults, especially in those aged 20-44 years or non-Hispanic whites. This association may provide new management strategies for CD.