Lipid accumulation product (LAP) as a potential index to predict risk of insulin resistance in young, non-obese Asian Indian males from Southern India: observations from hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp studies

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to compare the predictive accuracy of surrogate indices namely the lipid accumulation product (LAP) index, homeostatic model of assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting glucose-insulin ratio (FG-IR) and the quantitative-insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), against the M value of hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (HEC), and to determine a cut-off value for the LAP index to predict risk of insulin resistance in non-obese (body mass index <21 kg/m(2)), normoglycemic, Asian Indian males from Southern India. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Data of HEC studies performed in 108 non-obese, normoglycemic, Asian Indian males was obtained retrospectively and the M value (a measure of whole-body insulin sensitivity) was calculated. The M value is the rate of whole-body glucose metabolism at the hyperinsulinemic plateau (a measure of insulin sensitivity) and is calculated between 60 and 120 min after the start of the insulin infusion in the HEC procedure. The LAP index, the HOMA-IR, FG-IR and QUICKI were calculated. Spearman’s correlation and logistic regression analysis were performed. Cut-off value for the LAP index was obtained using receiver operating characteristics with area under curve (AUC) analysis at 95% CI. P value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: Significant negative correlation was observed for the M value with LAP index (r=−0.39, p<0.001) while significant positive correlation was noted with FG-IR (r=0.25; p<0.01) and QUICKI (r=0.22; p<0.01). The LAP index cut-off value ≥33.4 showed 75% sensitivity and 75% specificity with AUC (0.72) to predict risk of insulin resistance in this cohort. CONCLUSION: The LAP index showed higher predictive accuracy for the risk of insulin resistance as compared with HOMA-IR, QUICKI and FG-IR in non-obese, normoglycemic Asian Indian males from Southern India.