Comparison of triglyceride glucose index and other insulin resistance indexes in children with overweight and obesity

Objectives The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between insulin resistance (IR) indexes in children with overweight or obesity. Methods A total of 276 children with overweight or obesity and 100 normal-weight children were enrolled in the study. IR indexes such as homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI), fasting glucose/insulin ratio (FGIR), Triglyceride glucose index (TyG), and lipid-derived ratios were determined. Results The mean ages were 13.0 +/- 2.6, 13.1 +/- 2.7 and 12.72 +/- 2.23 (range:6 - 18 years) for children with overweight, obesity and normal-weight, respectively. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between HOMA-IR and TyG index, and a negative correlation between QUICKI, FGIR and TyG index (r = 0.193, P < 0.001; r = - 0.456, P < 0.001 and r = - 0.392, P < 0.001, respevtively). TyG index, triglyceride (TG)/high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total cholesterol (TC)/HDL, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/HDL were higher in children with IR than those without IR (P < 0.05). In receiver operating characteristic curves analysis, cut-off points were found to be <= 0.31 for QUICKI (94.31% sensitivity and 97.58% specificity), <= 6.3 for FGIR (89.1% sensitivity and 93.94% specificity), and > 4.62 for TyG (49.29% sensitivity and 84.85% specificity). Conclusion HOMA-IR, FGIR, and QUICKI constitute stronger predictors of IR than TyG index in children with overweight and obesity.