Fat Intake and High Triglyceride-Glucose Index in Individuals at Cardiometabolic Risk: An Isocaloric Substitution Analyses

Abstract

Background and aims:

Insulin resistance (IR) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and the triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index) is a potential IR biomarker. Evidence also suggests that fat intake may modulate IR status, but this relationship remains unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to analyze the relationship between the TyG index and isocaloric replacement of macronutrients, including the profile of dietary fatty acids in individuals at cardiometabolic risk.

Methods and results:

This cross-sectional study enrolled 264 individuals at cardiometabolic risk (age 43.1 ± 16.3 years) who participated in a nutritional intervention study (ReBEC, id: RBR-5n4y2g). The baseline demographic, anthropometric, clinical, dietary, and lifestyle data were used. The TyG index was calculated using the formula ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL)/2]. Multivariate nutrient density models were used to analyze isocaloric replacement of fatty acids (as 5% of energy). The chance of having a high TyG index (TyG index >8.83, median value) was decreased by 60% after replacing 5% of the energy intake of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), saturated fatty acid (SFA), and trans fatty acid (TFA) with monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) or PUFA and SFA with protein.

Conclusion:

Isocaloric replacement of PUFA, SFA, and TFA with MUFA and protein was associated with lower chances of having a high TyG index. These results indicate the importance of macronutrient and dietary fat profiles in the dietary planning of individuals at cardiometabolic risk.

Keywords:

• Cardiovascular risk
• monounsatured fat
• food consumption
• insulin resistance

Acknowledgments

We thank the PROCARDIO-UFV patients for their participation in this study and the UFV professionals for their excellent technical support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The CAPES Foundation (Ministry of Education, Brazil), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq/MCT/Brazil), and Foundation for Research Support of the State of Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) provided financial support. J Bressan and HHM Hermsdorff are CNPq Research Productivity Fellowship.