Associations between the triglyceride-glucose index combined with novel obesity indicators and depression: a...

Depression is a widespread negative mental health condition globally. Moreover, insulin resistance and obesity have been considered as crucial factors related to depression. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index-related obesity indices are novel parameters that can effectively reflect the status of both. Nevertheless, the link between these indices and depression remains unexplored in studies.

We selected 16,563 adult participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for analysis. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to explore the relationships between the TyG index and its combination with new obesity indices and depression. Moreover, we used restricted cubic spline analysis to explore the possible nonlinear connection between the exposure variables and depression. Analyses of subgroups were conducted to determine if the relationship between the TyG index, its combination with new obesity indices, and depression varies among different populations.

On average, the participants were 47.78 years old. In addition, TyG-ABSI, TyG-BRI, TyG-WWI, and TyG-RFM were all significantly associated with depression. Specifically, the population in the highest tertile of TyG-ABSI (OR=1.38, 95%CI=1.12, 1.71, P = 0.003), TyG-BRI (OR=1.63, 95%CI=1.32, 2.01, P < 0.001), TyG-WWI (OR=1.53, 95%CI=1.21, 1.95, P < 0.001), and TyG-RFM (OR=1.81, 95%CI=1.45, 2.27, P < 0.001) was more likely to be affected with depression compared to the individuals among the lowest tertile. Furthermore, there was a linear relationship between the TyG index adjusted by new obesity indexes and depression.

TyG-ABSI, TyG-BRI, TyG-WWI, and TyG-RFM were associated with depression among adults. Considering the latent impact of insulin resistance may be of clinical value in the risk monitoring and clinical management of depression.