Introduction: Obesity is associated with insulin resistance and measuring it in an apparently healthy population and correlating them with established risk parameters may identify predisposed individuals who may later develop diabetes or cardiovascular diseases.
Material and methods: 405 participants from a rural area were investigated for various metabolic parameters and indices of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance indices were evaluated in the 3 different groups [Obese Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), Lean MetS and those without MetS]. Various anthropometric and metabolic parameters were compared. Lean MetS is defined as those having waist criteria below the region specific waist criteria and even then satisfying the definition of MetS as per the NCEP ATP-III criteria.
Results: The mean fasting insulin level was 7.69+4.38 uIU/ml in normal population, 10.40+5.65 uIU/ml in Lean MetS population and 13.71+6.63 uIU/ml in Obese MetS population (P<0.05). The HOMA-IR2 measured was 2.39+ 1.69 in normal population, while in the Lean MetS and Obese Mets were 3.99+3.40 and 4.04+2.53, respectively (P<0.05). The QUICKI level measured was 0.358+0.041 in normal population and 0.334+0.037 and 0.316+0.026 respectively in the Lean MetS and Obese MetS (P<0.05). McAuley index measured in normal population was 0.49+0.26 and 0.75+0.25 and 0.79+0.17 in the Lean MetS and Obese MetS population (P<0.05).TyG index measured was 8.51+0.46 in normal population and 9.27+0.56 and 9.06+0.49 respectively in the Lean MetS and Obese MetS (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Insulin resistance indices are elevated in MetS compared to the normal population but the indices in Lean MetS are not different from Obese MetS. The relevance of ethnicity specific waist circumference may need re-evaluation considering its little impact in influencing the level of insulin resistance.
© Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 2011.