Background and aims Triglycerides-glucose index (TyG index) has been associated with homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index in healthy adults; this might be useful in identifying individuals at high risk of developing diabetes. Moreover, TyG-index has been related to Triglycerides/HDL ratio and carotid atherosclerosis, indicating strong validity to assess cardiovascular risk. (Lee SH et al 2014, Irace C et al 2013).

The primary aim of this study was to assess the TyG in obese children and adolescent.

Methods Two hundred sixty-eight obese children and adolescents (Cole TJ et al 2000), mean (SD) age 10.05 (1,82) years, were studied. Anthropometry, fasting glucose and insulin, lipid profile were evaluated. HOMA and TyG index were calculated as following, respectively: [fasting Insulin (μU/l) x fasting glucose (mmol/l)] : 22.5; Ln[fasting triglycerides (mg/dl) x fasting glucose (mg/dl)/2] (Simental-Mendía LE et al 2008). Insulin resistance has been defined as HOMA Index > 95°p for sex and pubertal stage (D’Annunzio G et al. 2009).

Results 135 subjects showed insulin resistance, with higher TyG index than those with normal insulin sensitivity (P < 0.001) and higher Triglycerides/HL ratio (P < 0.001) (Table).

In all the studied population a positive association between TyG index, HOMA index and Triglycerides/HDL ratio was found (P < 0.001); in the non-insulin resistance group a positive association between TyG index and waist/height ratio was observed (p = 0.03).

Conclusions TyG index is a good predictor of decreased insulin sensitivity also in paediatric ages and might be considered also a marker of cardiovascular risk considering the association with waist/height ratio and Triglycerides/HDL ratio.