Physical Activity Reduces Metabolic Risk via Iron Metabolism: Cross-National Evidence Using the Triglyceride–Glucose Index

<b>Purpose:</b> Studies suggest that the triglyceride–glucose index (TyG) is a novel and comprehensive marker of metabolic health. While most research indicates that increased physical activity (PA) is linked to improved metabolic health, some studies argue that the previous markers may...

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Main Authors: Zikang Hao, Xinmeng Guo, Yitao Wang, Guang Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Metabolites
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/12/651
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author Zikang Hao
Xinmeng Guo
Yitao Wang
Guang Yang
author_facet Zikang Hao
Xinmeng Guo
Yitao Wang
Guang Yang
author_sort Zikang Hao
collection DOAJ
description <b>Purpose:</b> Studies suggest that the triglyceride–glucose index (TyG) is a novel and comprehensive marker of metabolic health. While most research indicates that increased physical activity (PA) is linked to improved metabolic health, some studies argue that the previous markers may not fully capture this relationship. This study uses TyG as a marker of metabolic health to examine the association between PA and TyG. <b>Methods:</b> Data are from cross-sectional surveys in three large population studies in China and the United States: CHARLS, CHNS, and NHANES. Regression models were applied to analyze the relationship between PA and TyG, with covariates adjusted in a stepwise manner. Stratified analysis was used to explore this relationship among different population groups, and, since it has been suggested that iron metabolism plays an important role in metabolic health, it was used as a mediating variable to construct a mediation model for analysis and discussion. <b>Results:</b> Higher PA was significantly associated with lower TyG levels across all three databases (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and this relationship remained robust after full adjustment for covariates. This negative association was more pronounced in older males (over 45 years). Iron metabolism also mediated this relationship, with mediation proportions ranging from 10% to 12.5%. <b>Conclusions:</b> There is a significant inverse association between PA and TyG, suggesting a link between increased PA and metabolic health, with iron metabolism moderating this relationship, especially among older males.
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spelling doaj-art-6fc3be28dfb24aa4bdeef6d62782bbd42025-08-20T02:00:29ZengMDPI AGMetabolites2218-19892024-11-01141265110.3390/metabo14120651Physical Activity Reduces Metabolic Risk via Iron Metabolism: Cross-National Evidence Using the Triglyceride–Glucose IndexZikang Hao0Xinmeng Guo1Yitao Wang2Guang Yang3School of Physical Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, ChinaSchool of Physical Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250061, ChinaKunshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunshan 215300, ChinaKunshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunshan 215300, China<b>Purpose:</b> Studies suggest that the triglyceride–glucose index (TyG) is a novel and comprehensive marker of metabolic health. While most research indicates that increased physical activity (PA) is linked to improved metabolic health, some studies argue that the previous markers may not fully capture this relationship. This study uses TyG as a marker of metabolic health to examine the association between PA and TyG. <b>Methods:</b> Data are from cross-sectional surveys in three large population studies in China and the United States: CHARLS, CHNS, and NHANES. Regression models were applied to analyze the relationship between PA and TyG, with covariates adjusted in a stepwise manner. Stratified analysis was used to explore this relationship among different population groups, and, since it has been suggested that iron metabolism plays an important role in metabolic health, it was used as a mediating variable to construct a mediation model for analysis and discussion. <b>Results:</b> Higher PA was significantly associated with lower TyG levels across all three databases (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and this relationship remained robust after full adjustment for covariates. This negative association was more pronounced in older males (over 45 years). Iron metabolism also mediated this relationship, with mediation proportions ranging from 10% to 12.5%. <b>Conclusions:</b> There is a significant inverse association between PA and TyG, suggesting a link between increased PA and metabolic health, with iron metabolism moderating this relationship, especially among older males.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/12/651physical activitytriglyceride–glucose indexiron metabolismmetabolic healthlifestyle
spellingShingle Zikang Hao
Xinmeng Guo
Yitao Wang
Guang Yang
Physical Activity Reduces Metabolic Risk via Iron Metabolism: Cross-National Evidence Using the Triglyceride–Glucose Index
Metabolites
physical activity
triglyceride–glucose index
iron metabolism
metabolic health
lifestyle
title Physical Activity Reduces Metabolic Risk via Iron Metabolism: Cross-National Evidence Using the Triglyceride–Glucose Index
title_full Physical Activity Reduces Metabolic Risk via Iron Metabolism: Cross-National Evidence Using the Triglyceride–Glucose Index
title_fullStr Physical Activity Reduces Metabolic Risk via Iron Metabolism: Cross-National Evidence Using the Triglyceride–Glucose Index
title_full_unstemmed Physical Activity Reduces Metabolic Risk via Iron Metabolism: Cross-National Evidence Using the Triglyceride–Glucose Index
title_short Physical Activity Reduces Metabolic Risk via Iron Metabolism: Cross-National Evidence Using the Triglyceride–Glucose Index
title_sort physical activity reduces metabolic risk via iron metabolism cross national evidence using the triglyceride glucose index
topic physical activity
triglyceride–glucose index
iron metabolism
metabolic health
lifestyle
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/12/651
work_keys_str_mv AT zikanghao physicalactivityreducesmetabolicriskviaironmetabolismcrossnationalevidenceusingthetriglycerideglucoseindex
AT xinmengguo physicalactivityreducesmetabolicriskviaironmetabolismcrossnationalevidenceusingthetriglycerideglucoseindex
AT yitaowang physicalactivityreducesmetabolicriskviaironmetabolismcrossnationalevidenceusingthetriglycerideglucoseindex
AT guangyang physicalactivityreducesmetabolicriskviaironmetabolismcrossnationalevidenceusingthetriglycerideglucoseindex