- Home
- Medical news & Guidelines
- Anesthesiology
- Cardiology and CTVS
- Critical Care
- Dentistry
- Dermatology
- Diabetes and Endocrinology
- ENT
- Gastroenterology
- Medicine
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Obstretics-Gynaecology
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopaedics
- Pediatrics-Neonatology
- Psychiatry
- Pulmonology
- Radiology
- Surgery
- Urology
- Laboratory Medicine
- Diet
- Nursing
- Paramedical
- Physiotherapy
- Health news
- Fact Check
- Bone Health Fact Check
- Brain Health Fact Check
- Cancer Related Fact Check
- Child Care Fact Check
- Dental and oral health fact check
- Diabetes and metabolic health fact check
- Diet and Nutrition Fact Check
- Eye and ENT Care Fact Check
- Fitness fact check
- Gut health fact check
- Heart health fact check
- Kidney health fact check
- Medical education fact check
- Men's health fact check
- Respiratory fact check
- Skin and hair care fact check
- Vaccine and Immunization fact check
- Women's health fact check
- AYUSH
- State News
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Andhra Pradesh
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Bihar
- Chandigarh
- Chattisgarh
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli
- Daman and Diu
- Delhi
- Goa
- Gujarat
- Haryana
- Himachal Pradesh
- Jammu & Kashmir
- Jharkhand
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Ladakh
- Lakshadweep
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Manipur
- Meghalaya
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Odisha
- Puducherry
- Punjab
- Rajasthan
- Sikkim
- Tamil Nadu
- Telangana
- Tripura
- Uttar Pradesh
- Uttrakhand
- West Bengal
- Medical Education
- Industry
Higher TyG Index Linked to Increased Gallstone Risk, Study Finds
China: A recent study published in Scientific Reports found that the risk of gallstones positively correlates with a higher triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index. This suggests that the TyG index can be used as an effective predictor of gallstone risk.
The research indicates that individuals with elevated TyG index values are more likely to develop gallstones, highlighting its potential utility in identifying those at greater risk for this condition. By incorporating TyG index measurements into routine health assessments, healthcare providers could improve early detection and preventive strategies for gallstones.
Gallstones, which are hardened deposits in the gallbladder, can lead to severe abdominal pain and complications if left untreated. While factors such as obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels have long been known to increase the risk of gallstones, the role of the triglyceride-glucose index has not been thoroughly investigated until now.
To fill this knowledge gap, Hongliang Li & Congfeng Zhang from Dandong Central Hospital in Dandong, China, aimed to investigate the relationship between the TyG index and gallstones using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
For this purpose, they evaluated the data collected between 2017 to 2020. To assess the relationship between the TyG index and gallstones, the study employed logistic regression analysis, examined participants' basic characteristics, performed subgroup analysis, and applied smooth curve fitting techniques. The research included 3,870 participants aged 20 and older, among whom 403 reported having gallstones, resulting in a prevalence rate of 10.4%.
The following were the key findings of the study:
- After adjusting for all confounding factors, the risk of gallstones increased by 41% for each unit increase in the TyG index (OR 1.41).
- The smooth curve fitting also showed a positive correlation between the TyG index and gallstones.
- Subgroup analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between the TyG index and the risk of gallstones in those aged < 50 years, women, individuals with total cholesterol levels > 200 mg/dL, individuals with body mass index (BMI) > 25, and individuals without diabetes.
The findings showed a significant correlation between a higher TyG index and an increased risk of gallstones. This association was particularly notable in the following subgroups: individuals under 50 years, women, those with total cholesterol levels exceeding 200 mg/dL, individuals with a BMI over 25, and those without diabetes. Consequently, the TyG index may serve as an effective predictor of gallstone risk in these populations.
The NHANES study used a representative sample and a robust research strategy, but it has limitations. Cross-sectional design restricts causal inference, questionnaire data may involve memory bias and imaging practices might affect gallstone detection.
"Despite these, the study is the first to link the TyG index to gallstones, warranting further investigation through a multicenter cohort study," the researchers wrote.
Reference:
Li, H., & Zhang, C. (2024). Association between triglyceride-glucose index and gallstones: A cross-sectional study. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-68841-6
MSc. Biotechnology
Medha Baranwal joined Medical Dialogues as an Editor in 2018 for Speciality Medical Dialogues. She covers several medical specialties including Cardiac Sciences, Dentistry, Diabetes and Endo, Diagnostics, ENT, Gastroenterology, Neurosciences, and Radiology. She has completed her Bachelors in Biomedical Sciences from DU and then pursued Masters in Biotechnology from Amity University. She has a working experience of 5 years in the field of medical research writing, scientific writing, content writing, and content management. She can be contacted at  editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751
Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751