https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38664989/ NAFLD

J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol. 2024 Apr 26.
doi: 10.4274/jcrpe.galenos.2024.2024-2-5.Online ahead of print.

Triglyceride Glucose Index is Associated with Ultrasonographic Fatty Liver Indicator in Children and Adolescents with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Bitgyeol Kim 1, Hye Young Jin 1, Jong Seo Yoon 1, Eu Seon Noh 1, Il Tae Hwang 1

Affiliations expand
PMID: 38664989

DOI: 10.4274/jcrpe.galenos.2024.2024-2-5
Free article
Abstract

Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined as chronic hepatic steatosis and is becoming prevalent along with the increasing trend of obesity in children and adolescents. A non-invasive and reliable tool is needed to differentiate non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) from simple steatosis. This study evaluates the association between the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and the ultrasonographic fatty liver indicator (US-FLI), and the possibility of using the TyG index for prediction of severity of pediatric NAFLD.

Methods: One hundred twenty one patients who were diagnosed with NAFLD by ultrasonography were included. They were categorized into 3 groups according to body mass index (BMI). Ninety two were obese, and 19 and 10 were overweight and normal weight, respectively.

Results: The homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was highest in the group with obesity (P=0.044). The TyG index and US-FLI did not differ significantly among the 3 BMI groups (P=0.186). Fourteen (11.6 %) of the 121 patients had US-FLI ≥ 6, in whom the BMI-SDS and TyG index were higher (P=0.017, P=0.004), whereas HOMA-IR did not differ significantly from the group with US-FLI < 6 (P=0.366). US-FLI was associated with BMI-SDS and the TyG index. TyG index was significantly associated with US-FLI after adjustment for BMI-SDS. The cut-off value for the TyG index for predicting US-FLI ≥ 6 was 8.91, with an area under the curve of 0.785.
Conclusion: TyG index was associated with the degree of hepatic steatosis, suggesting that it might be a useful tool for predicting the severity of pediatric NAFLD.