Triglyceride glucose waist circumference and non alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta analysis

BackgroundInsulin resistance (IR) plays a noticeable role in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The triglyceride glucose-waist circumference (TyG-WC) index, a novel measure for assessing IR, may hold significant predictive value for NAFLD. However, the relationship between TyG-WC and the risk of NAFLD remains elusive. To investigate this association, this comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted.MethodsA systematic electronic search was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from their inception until July 2024 to identify observational studies assessing the relationship between TyG-WC and the risk of NAFLD. Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal checklist was utilized to evaluate the quality of cross-sectional studies, while the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) score was used to assess cohort studies. The principal summary outcomes included the mean difference (MD) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsIn total, 10 studies comprising 38,518 participants were included in this meta-analysis, of whom 37% were diagnosed with NAFLD. The analysis revealed a significant MD between NAFLD and non-NAFLD cases (MD, 137.41; [95% CI, 121.52-153.31]).ConclusionA significant MD was identified between NAFLD and non-NAFLD cases. The TyG-WC index was found to be positively correlated with the risk of NAFLD, suggesting that it may serve as a potential indicator for NAFLD.