Triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index) is associated with a higher risk of colorectal adenoma and multiple adenomas in asymptomatic subjects

Hypothesis The objective of this study is to evaluate the predictive ability of the TyG index for the presence of adenoma and multiple adenomas in an asymptomatic population. Design A secondary analysis was conducted on a prospective cohort of asymptomatic subjects aged between 50 and 75 who underwent CRC screening. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) and lipid profiles were measured within three months prior colonoscopy. TyG index was estimated as ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × FBG (mg/dL)/2]. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the association between the TyG index and the risk of adenoma. Its association with multiple adenomas (≥5) and the continuous number of adenomas were assessed by multinomial regression and log-normal linear regression, respectively. Results A total of 1,538 subjects were recruited among which 876 subjects (57%) had at least one adenoma detected. Elevated TyG index was positively associated with the incidence of adenoma (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04–1.54). Compared with the lowest TyG index (≤ 8) group, the risk of adenoma was the highest among subjects in the highest TyG index (> 10) group (aOR: 3.36, 95% CI: 1.44–7.73). As compared to the non-adenoma group, the TyG index was also positively associated with multiple adenomas (aOR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.17–2.57), and the estimate was also the highest in the highest TyG group (aOR: 14.49, 95% CI: 3.12–67.20). As for the number of adenomas, the positive association was maintained (Estimates: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01–1.12) while the number of adenomas increase the most in the highest TyG index group (Estimates: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.10–1.65). Conclusions Elevated TyG index is associated with an increased risk of colorectal adenoma and an increased number of adenomas for asymptomatic subjects aged ≥50. Trial registration This study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03597204 and NCT04034953).