PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of biochemical indicators from the plasmatic lipid profile to identify the insulin resistance (IR), assessed by the HOMA-IR index (Homeostasis Model Assessment -Insulin Resistance). METHODS: 138 healthy men (20-59 years) were evaluated. The lipid profile biochemical indicators analyzed were the following: triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, LDL-C, and TC/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C ratios. The percentile 75 was considered as the cut-off point for IR. Statistical analysis consisted of Spearman correlation coefficient, ROC curves and calculation of the areas under the curve (AUC). RESULT: The TG/HDL-C ratio showed the strongest correlation and the greatest AUC (r = 0.334 and AUC = 0.724 ± 0.046, p < 0.001) respectively, followed by the HDL-C (r = -0.313 and AUC = 0.716 ± 0.052, p < 0.01), the TG (r = 0.261 and AUC = 0.048 ± 0.674, p < 0.01) and CT/HDL-C ratio (r = 0.259 and AUC = 0.655 ± 0.05, p < 0.01). Results for TC and LDL-C showed no statistical significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The TG/HDL-C ratio showed the greatest ability to identify IR, proved to be an alternative and easy access instrument to assess IR in clinical practice, therefore providing diseases prevention for the adult male population.
Insulin resistance; HOMA; Lipoproteins; Triglycerides
