LIPC variants as genetic determinants of adiposity status, visceral adiposity indicators, and triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index-related parameters mediated by serum triglyceride levels

BACKGROUND: Visceral adiposity indicators and the product of triglyceride and fasting plasma glucose (TyG) index-related parameters are effective surrogate markers for insulin resistance (IR) and are predictors of metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus. However, their genetic determinants have not been previously reported. Pleiotropic associations of LIPC variants have been observed in lipid profiles and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to investigate LIPC polymorphisms as the genetic determinants of adiposity status, visceral adiposity indicators and TyG index-related parameters. METHODS: A total of 592 participants from Taiwan were genotyped for three LIPC single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). RESULTS: The LIPC SNPs rs2043085 and rs1532085 were significantly associated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), lipid accumulation product, visceral adiposity index, and TyG index-related parameters [including the TyG index, TyG with adiposity status (TyG-BMI), and TyG-WC index], whereas the rs1800588 SNP was only significantly associated with the TyG index. The associations became nonsignificant after further adjustment for serum TG levels. No significant association was observed between any the studied LIPC SNPs and IR status. CONCLUSION: Our data revealed a pleiotropic association between the LIPC variants and visceral adiposity indicators and TyG index-related parameters, which are mediated by serum TG levels. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s13098-018-0383-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.