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The ZJU index: a useful indicator for recognizing insulin resistance in the Chinese general population

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Abstract

Aims

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and is closely associated with insulin resistance (IR). The ZJU index is based on body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglycerides (TG) and the serum alanine aminotransferase-to-aspartate transaminase ratio, and is proven to be a novel and effective parameter for screening NAFLD in the Chinese population. We aimed to analyze the relationship between the ZJU index and IR.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 3329 Chinese adults was performed. Blood pressure (BP), anthropometric measurements and biochemical parameters were tested. The BMI, ZJU index and homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) were calculated.

Results

In both genders, BP, waist circumference, BMI, total cholesterol, TG, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, FPG, postprandial glucose levels, fasting insulin and the HOMA-IR gradually increased, while the HDL-C decreased across the quartiles of the ZJU index (P < 0.001). The logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of IR was significantly elevated in the highest quartile of the ZJU index. Additionally, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the ZJU index was 0.833 (95 % CI 0.809–0.858) in males and 0.788 (95 % CI 0.758–0.818) in females and was relatively higher than other common variables.

Conclusions

The ZJU index is a useful indicator for recognizing IR in the Chinese general population.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank all the research staffs who have given their time so generously over the course of the REACTION study. This study was supported by the Grants from the Chinese Society of Endocrinology and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81070639, 81270911, 30771038 and 30570744), and National Key Clinical Specialties Construction Program of China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Youyi Street, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China

    Baolan Ji, Hua Qu, Hang Wang, Huili Wei & Huacong Deng

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  1. Baolan Ji
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  2. Hua Qu
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  3. Hang Wang
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  4. Huili Wei
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  5. Huacong Deng
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Huacong Deng.

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Conflict of interest

Baolan Ji, Hua Qu, Hang Wang, Huili Wei, and Huacong Deng declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and animal rights

The ethical committee of Shanghai Jiaotong University, and the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University approved this study. All procedures followed were performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Managed by Massimo Porta.

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Ji, B., Qu, H., Wang, H. et al. The ZJU index: a useful indicator for recognizing insulin resistance in the Chinese general population. Acta Diabetol 53, 817–823 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-016-0878-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-016-0878-5

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