Reference ranges of HOMA IR in normal weight and obese young Caucasians
AimsInsulin resistance (IR) may develop very early in life being associated with occurrence of cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) Aim of the present study was to identify in young Caucasians normative values of IR as estimated by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA IR) and cutoffs diagnostic of CMRFs.MethodsAnthropometrics and biochemical parameters were assessed in 2753 Caucasians (age 2 17.8 years; 1204 F) Reference ranges of HOMA IR were defined for the whole population and for samples of normal weight and overweight/obese individuals. The receiver operator characteristic analysis was used to find cutoffs of HOMA IR accurately identifying individuals with any CMRF among total cholesterol and/or triglycerides higher than the 95th percentile and/or HDL cholesterol lower than the 5th for age and sex, impaired glucose tolerance, and alanine aminotransferase levels =40 U/l.ResultsOverweight/obese individuals had higher HOMA IR levels compared with normal weight peers (p 0.0001) at any age. HOMA IR index rose progressively with age, plateaued between age 13 and 15 years and started decreasing afterward. HOMA IR peaked at age 13 years in girls and at 15 years in boys. The 75th percentile of HOMA IR in the whole population (3.02; AUROC 0.73, 95 CI 0.70 0.75) in normal weight (1.68; AUROC 0.76, 95 CI 0.74 0.79) and obese (3.42; AUROC 0.71, 95 CI 0.69 0.72) individuals identified the cutoffs best classifying individuals with any CMRF.ConclusionsPercentiles of HOMA IR varied significantly in young Caucasians depending on sex, age, and BMI category. The 75th percentile may represent an accurate cutoff point to suspect the occurrence of one or more CMRFs among high total cholesterol and triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and ALT 40 UI/l.
Acta Diabetologica