Triglyceride-glucose index and cancer risk: a prospective cohort study in Taiwan
Abstract Background Insulin resistance (IR) is a key metabolic abnormality associated with adverse health outcomes, including increased cancer risk. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a validated surrogate marker of IR, has been linked to metabolic dysfunction; however, its association with cance...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-025-01768-8 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849331872539082752 |
|---|---|
| author | Hsiao-Yun Yeh Mei-Hung Pan Chih-Jen Huang Shiao-Ya Hong Hwai-I Yang Ying-Ying Yang Chia-Chang Huang Hung-Cheng Tsai Tzu-Hao Li Chien-Wei Su Ming-Chih Hou |
| author_facet | Hsiao-Yun Yeh Mei-Hung Pan Chih-Jen Huang Shiao-Ya Hong Hwai-I Yang Ying-Ying Yang Chia-Chang Huang Hung-Cheng Tsai Tzu-Hao Li Chien-Wei Su Ming-Chih Hou |
| author_sort | Hsiao-Yun Yeh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Insulin resistance (IR) is a key metabolic abnormality associated with adverse health outcomes, including increased cancer risk. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a validated surrogate marker of IR, has been linked to metabolic dysfunction; however, its association with cancer risk in large population-based cohorts remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between TyG index and cancer risk in Taiwanese population. Methods We analyzed 150,592 participants from the Taiwan Biobank, among whom 148,809 were linked to the Taiwan Cancer Registry (2011–2022) for cancer incidence tracking. Cancer risk was assessed across TyG quartiles over a median follow-up of 5.7 years (IQR: 3.4–7.6). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for key covariates. Results Higher TyG index levels were associated with increased risks of digestive system cancer (adjusted HR [aHR]: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.05–1.29), colorectal cancer (aHR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.08–1.44), and urinary tract cancer (aHR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.18–1.85). While subgroup trends suggested numerically higher risks in males, individuals aged ≥ 50 years, and those with overweight or obesity for these cancer types, formal interaction tests did not support statistically significant effect modification in these groups. Significant interactions were observed for overall cancers by age (P < 0.001) and BMI (P = 0.012), and for urinary tract cancer by drinking status (P = 0.047). In a subset of 19,808 participants with follow-up data, higher TyG quartiles were also linked to fatty liver, carotid plaques, and persistent IR over time (r = 0.75). Conclusions Higher TyG index levels, indicative of greater IR, are associated with an elevated risk of digestive system, colorectal, and urinary tract cancers. Evaluating TyG index levels could assist in risk stratification for these cancers among individuals with persistent IR, supporting targeted prevention strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-22e7e46b34984473a9f849b71e04ebca |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1758-5996 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome |
| spelling | doaj-art-22e7e46b34984473a9f849b71e04ebca2025-08-20T03:46:23ZengBMCDiabetology & Metabolic Syndrome1758-59962025-07-0117111310.1186/s13098-025-01768-8Triglyceride-glucose index and cancer risk: a prospective cohort study in TaiwanHsiao-Yun Yeh0Mei-Hung Pan1Chih-Jen Huang2Shiao-Ya Hong3Hwai-I Yang4Ying-Ying Yang5Chia-Chang Huang6Hung-Cheng Tsai7Tzu-Hao Li8Chien-Wei Su9Ming-Chih Hou10Department of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General HospitalGenomics Research Center, Academia SinicaGenomics Research Center, Academia SinicaDepartment of Biotechnology and Laboratory Science in Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityGenomics Research Center, Academia SinicaDepartment of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General HospitalDepartment of Medical Education, Taipei Veterans General HospitalSchool of medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityDivision of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial HospitalSchool of medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversitySchool of medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityAbstract Background Insulin resistance (IR) is a key metabolic abnormality associated with adverse health outcomes, including increased cancer risk. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a validated surrogate marker of IR, has been linked to metabolic dysfunction; however, its association with cancer risk in large population-based cohorts remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between TyG index and cancer risk in Taiwanese population. Methods We analyzed 150,592 participants from the Taiwan Biobank, among whom 148,809 were linked to the Taiwan Cancer Registry (2011–2022) for cancer incidence tracking. Cancer risk was assessed across TyG quartiles over a median follow-up of 5.7 years (IQR: 3.4–7.6). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for key covariates. Results Higher TyG index levels were associated with increased risks of digestive system cancer (adjusted HR [aHR]: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.05–1.29), colorectal cancer (aHR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.08–1.44), and urinary tract cancer (aHR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.18–1.85). While subgroup trends suggested numerically higher risks in males, individuals aged ≥ 50 years, and those with overweight or obesity for these cancer types, formal interaction tests did not support statistically significant effect modification in these groups. Significant interactions were observed for overall cancers by age (P < 0.001) and BMI (P = 0.012), and for urinary tract cancer by drinking status (P = 0.047). In a subset of 19,808 participants with follow-up data, higher TyG quartiles were also linked to fatty liver, carotid plaques, and persistent IR over time (r = 0.75). Conclusions Higher TyG index levels, indicative of greater IR, are associated with an elevated risk of digestive system, colorectal, and urinary tract cancers. Evaluating TyG index levels could assist in risk stratification for these cancers among individuals with persistent IR, supporting targeted prevention strategies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-025-01768-8 |
| spellingShingle | Hsiao-Yun Yeh Mei-Hung Pan Chih-Jen Huang Shiao-Ya Hong Hwai-I Yang Ying-Ying Yang Chia-Chang Huang Hung-Cheng Tsai Tzu-Hao Li Chien-Wei Su Ming-Chih Hou Triglyceride-glucose index and cancer risk: a prospective cohort study in Taiwan Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome |
| title | Triglyceride-glucose index and cancer risk: a prospective cohort study in Taiwan |
| title_full | Triglyceride-glucose index and cancer risk: a prospective cohort study in Taiwan |
| title_fullStr | Triglyceride-glucose index and cancer risk: a prospective cohort study in Taiwan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Triglyceride-glucose index and cancer risk: a prospective cohort study in Taiwan |
| title_short | Triglyceride-glucose index and cancer risk: a prospective cohort study in Taiwan |
| title_sort | triglyceride glucose index and cancer risk a prospective cohort study in taiwan |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-025-01768-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hsiaoyunyeh triglycerideglucoseindexandcancerriskaprospectivecohortstudyintaiwan AT meihungpan triglycerideglucoseindexandcancerriskaprospectivecohortstudyintaiwan AT chihjenhuang triglycerideglucoseindexandcancerriskaprospectivecohortstudyintaiwan AT shiaoyahong triglycerideglucoseindexandcancerriskaprospectivecohortstudyintaiwan AT hwaiiyang triglycerideglucoseindexandcancerriskaprospectivecohortstudyintaiwan AT yingyingyang triglycerideglucoseindexandcancerriskaprospectivecohortstudyintaiwan AT chiachanghuang triglycerideglucoseindexandcancerriskaprospectivecohortstudyintaiwan AT hungchengtsai triglycerideglucoseindexandcancerriskaprospectivecohortstudyintaiwan AT tzuhaoli triglycerideglucoseindexandcancerriskaprospectivecohortstudyintaiwan AT chienweisu triglycerideglucoseindexandcancerriskaprospectivecohortstudyintaiwan AT mingchihhou triglycerideglucoseindexandcancerriskaprospectivecohortstudyintaiwan |