Correlations Between TyG-Related Indices and Bone Health: A Cross-Sectional Study of Osteoporosis in a Rural Chinese Population.

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis (OP) is a major metabolic bone disease with significant health and socioeconomic impacts. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and its derivatives, which reflect insulin resistance (IR), may play a role in bone metabolism. However, the relationship between TyG indices and OP is unclear. This study aimed to explore the association between TyG indices and OP in a low-income rural Chinese population.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in rural Tianjin, China, in 2020. Participants aged 60 years or older were included. Data were collected through interviews, including sociodemographic and clinical information, and physical examinations. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the femoral neck was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Multivariate regression models and restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves were used to assess the relationships between TyG indices and OP.

RESULTS

A total of 437 individuals were included in the final analysis, with 38 diagnosed with osteoporosis (prevalence of 8.7%). After adjusting for all covariates, each 1-unit increase in triglyceride-glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) was associated with a 2% lower risk of osteoporosis, (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.96-1.00, P=0.029), especially in women, individuals with hypertension, and non-diabetic populations. The OP risk of the fourth quartile (Q4) of the triglyceride-glucose-waist circumference (TyG-WC) index after correcting for all covariates is 5.58 times that of the first quartile (Q1)(OR: 5.58, 95% CI: 1.14-27.41, P=0.034). Linear regression showed a positive correlation between TyG-BMI and BMD, particularly in women, individuals under 70, and those with hypertension or non-hypertension, with the strongest correlation in the non-hypertensive group.

CONCLUSION

TyG-related indices are associated with OP, suggesting a potential role in the early prevention and management of osteoporosis in this population, ultimately improving public health outcomes.