Higher TG/HDL-C Ratio Linked to Albuminuria in Type 2 Diabetes
A higher triglyceride-to-HDL cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio was associated with a greater prevalence of albuminuria in people with type 2 diabetes, suggesting a possible link between atherogenic dyslipidaemia and diabetic kidney involvement. However, the study’s cross-sectional design prevents establishing a causal relationship, and prospective studies are needed to confirm the findings. The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition by Jinghan Z. and colleagues.
The study group collected information from a large number of patients with the already diagnosed Type 2 diabetes, using all the necessary data of biometrics, laboratory findings, and urinalysis. In addition, all the statistical calculations and modelings were completed in early 2026. Statistical methodology used in the investigation included multivariable logistic regression analyses of the direct odds of the prevalence of albuminuria according to the increasing quartiles of the TG/HDL-C ratio after adjustment for age, duration of diabetes, and blood pressure.
To explore any possible non-linear association, investigators employed advanced RCS modeling to find exact mathematical thresholds. ROC curves were created to assess the general discriminatory power of such a ratio in distinguishing those patients with proteinuria and without it. Subgroup and mediation analyses were conducted to test possible demographic differences and to see which factor drives the vascular damage – uric acid or blood sugar.
Key findings:
- The cross-sectional research framework successfully conducted and analyzed the baseline sample of 2,323 patients with type 2 diabetes.
- In the real world, the prevalence of albuminuria gradually and predictively rose with the rise in quartiles of the TG/HDL-C ratio.
- Nonlinear relationship using restricted cubic spline analysis indicated a clear threshold level at TG/HDL-C ratio of 2.08 with the significance level for overall (P-overall < 0.001) and nonlinear (P-nonlinear < 0.001).
- ROC curves further supported the relatively high level of clinical discrimination and diagnostic accuracy of the TG/HDL-C ratio in women patients.
- Through subgroup analyses, the TG/HDL-C ratio showed a stronger link with the UACR in women type 2 diabetic patients.
In summary, a significant relationship was found between the TG/HDL-C ratio and albuminuria in T2D patients. However, causality cannot be proven due to the observational nature of this study. More research needs to be conducted in order to verify the results. These metabolic statistics represent an essential framework for contemporary cardio-metabolic medicine, demonstrating that the analysis of inter-dependent lipid ratios reveals significantly more about the organ damage than simple cholesterol values.
Reference:
Zheng J, Chi J, Che K, Wang Y and Zheng Q (2026) Association between triglyceride-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study. Front. Nutr. 13:1810515. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1810515
