| Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) is a multi-factorial liver disease and its incidence is
globally rising. Little is known about the association between triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and liver
fibrosis progression in NAFLD patients.
Aim: To examine the association of liver fibrosis with TyG index among patients with NAFLD in a sample
of Iranian adults.
Methods: TheNAFLDfibrosis score andthefibrosis-4 (FIB-4) indexwere used for the detectionofhepaticfibrosis.
Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were applied to assess the association of liver fibrosis with TyG index.
Results: The current study included a total of 230 participants with NAFLD and low probability of fibrosis.
The TyG index quartiles were higher in patients with higher body mass index (BMI), higher systolic blood
pressure (SBP), and less physical activity than in participants with lower BMI, lower SBP and more
physical activity, respectively. Moreover, higher serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C,
aspartate and aminotransferases, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR),
and lower serum level of HDL-C were observed in patients with higher quartiles of TyG index (all
P < 0.01). The severity of NAFLD significantly increased with increment in the quartiles of TyG index.
Increased TyG index was positively associated with worsening of NAFLD fibrosis score and FIB-4 index.
Based on NAFLD fibrosis score, the multivariable-adjusted ORs (95% CIs) were 1.98 (1.33e2.22), 2.33 (2.09
e2.94), and 3.44 (2.63e4.25) in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quantiles of TyG index when compared to the 1st
quantile of TyG index. A similar trend was observed in the analysis using FIB-4 index.
Conclusion: According to the results of the current study, excess TyG index contributes to the development
of liver fibrosis. |