A non-linear relationship between triglyceride glucose waist circumference and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a Japanese population: a secondary analysis

INTRODUCTION: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common metabolic disorder associated with insulin resistance (IR). Triglyceride glucose waist circumference (TyG-WC) is a novel index of IR that reflects both visceral fat and hepatic steatosis. However, it is not known whether TyG-WC and NAFLD exhibit a nonlinear relationship in Japanese subjects with normal plasma glucose level. Thus, we examined the relationship between TyG-WC and NAFLD, in addition to determining the threshold level of TyG-WC associated with NAFLD. METHODS: A secondary analysis was performed based on a previous study that extracted medical examination records from Murakami Memorial Hospital between 2004 and 2015 in order to detect chronic diseases and their risk factors. TyG-WC was determined at baseline. NAFLD is the dependent variable. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the risk of NAFLD incidence. Based on the smoothing plot, a two-piecewise linear regression model was used to examine the threshold effect of TyG-WC on NAFLD. A subgroup analysis was carried out in order to study other factors that may influence the association between TyG-WC and NAFLD. RESULTS: 14,280 met the criteria for inclusion in the current secondary analysis. The adjusted OR (95% CI) for NAFLD in all subjects was 1.007 (95% CI 1.006–1.009, P < 0.001). The relationship between TyG-WC and NAFLD in Japanese subjects with normal plasma glucose level is nonlinear. TyG-WC is positively associated with NAFLD when TyG-WC is ranged between 480 and 800. In subgroup analyses, there was a significant interaction between BMI and TyG-WC associated NAFLD risk (P for interaction <0.001). DISCUSSION: The relationship between TyG-WC and NAFLD is nonlinear. TyG-WC is positively associated with NAFLD when TyG-WC is ranged between 480 and 800. There is potential clinical significance for the TyG-WC in identifying groups at high risk for NAFLD in subjects with normal plasma glucose level.