TyG index calculator and TG/HDL ratio
TyG index = ln(fasting triglycerides [mg/dL] Ă— fasting glucose [mg/dL] Ă· 2). For example, triglycerides of 150 mg/dL and glucose of 100 mg/dL give a TyG index of 8.92. The TG/HDL ratio is triglycerides Ă· HDL cholesterol (both in mg/dL); a ratio of 3.0 or more has been linked to insulin resistance in overweight adults.
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TyG index & TG/HDL calculator
The TyG index and TG/HDL formulas
TyG index = ln(fasting triglycerides [mg/dL] Ă— fasting glucose [mg/dL] Ă· 2)
TG/HDL ratio = triglycerides [mg/dL] Ă· HDL cholesterol [mg/dL]
“ln” is the natural logarithm. The TyG index was proposed in 2008 by Simental-MendĂa and colleagues in Mexico as a way to estimate insulin resistance without an insulin test, and was later checked against the gold-standard clamp test (Guerrero-Romero et al., 2010).
If your lab reports mmol/L, the calculator first converts to mg/dL: triglycerides Ă— 88.54, glucose Ă— 18.016 and HDL Ă— 38.67 (from the molar masses of triolein, glucose and cholesterol). Both results are rounded to two decimals, and that rounded value is compared with the cut-offs.
Published cut-offs
A 2020 systematic review found that TyG cut-offs vary between studies and populations, with no standard threshold yet. These are the reference points we use, with the population each came from.
| Marker | Cut-off | Population | Identifies | Study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TyG index | 8.8 (men 8.8, women 8.7) | 525 adults, Argentina | Metabolic syndrome | Unger et al., 2014 |
| TG/HDL ratio (mg/dL) | 3.0 | 258 overweight adults, USA | Insulin resistance | McLaughlin et al., 2003 |
| TG/HDL ratio (mg/dL) | 2.4 (men 3.1, women 2.2) | 525 adults, Argentina | Metabolic syndrome | Unger et al., 2014 |
What your result means
The TyG index rises with fasting triglycerides and glucose, and the TG/HDL ratio rises when triglycerides are high and HDL is low; both patterns go with insulin resistance. A result at or above the cut-offs is a reason to talk to your doctor, who may look at your fasting glucose, A1C or other tests. A result below them doesn't rule insulin resistance out.
The TG/HDL ratio in particular was not a reliable marker of insulin resistance in a study of African American adults (Sumner et al., 2005), so don't rely on it alone.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal TyG index?
There is no agreed normal range: a 2020 systematic review found that TyG cut-offs for insulin resistance vary between studies. For context, a study of 525 Argentinian adults found 8.8 (men 8.8, women 8.7) best separated people with and without metabolic syndrome. Lower values are better.
What is a good triglyceride to HDL ratio?
Lower is better. In a Stanford study of 258 overweight adults, a ratio of 3.0 or more (both values in mg/dL) identified people who were insulin resistant. In the Argentinian study, 2.4 (men 3.1, women 2.2) best identified metabolic syndrome.
Why does my TG/HDL ratio look different in mmol/L?
Triglycerides and cholesterol convert between units with different factors, so the ratio depends on the unit. A ratio calculated in mmol/L is about 0.44 times the mg/dL ratio, so a mg/dL ratio of 3.0 is about 1.3 in mmol/L. The cut-offs on this page use mg/dL, and the calculator converts for you.
Do I need to fast for the TyG index?
Yes. The TyG index was defined with fasting triglycerides and fasting glucose, and eating raises both, so use results from a fasting blood test.
Does the TG/HDL ratio work for everyone?
No. A study of 98 overweight African American adults found that triglycerides and the TG/HDL ratio did not reliably identify insulin resistance, so the 3.0 cut-off shouldn't be applied to everyone.
Is the TyG index better than HOMA-IR?
They estimate the same thing in different ways. TyG needs no insulin test, which is expensive and not available in many labs; in a Mexican study against the gold-standard clamp test, it identified insulin resistance with 96.5% sensitivity and 85% specificity. HOMA-IR needs fasting insulin. Neither is a diagnosis on its own.
Sources
- Simental-MendĂa LE, RodrĂguez-Morán M, Guerrero-Romero F. The product of fasting glucose and triglycerides as surrogate for identifying insulin resistance in apparently healthy subjects. Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2008;6(4):299–304.
- Guerrero-Romero F, Simental-MendĂa LE, González-Ortiz M, et al. The product of triglycerides and glucose, a simple measure of insulin sensitivity. Comparison with the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010;95(7):3347–3351.
- Unger G, Benozzi SF, Perruzza F, Pennacchiotti GL. Triglycerides and glucose index: a useful indicator of insulin resistance. Endocrinol Nutr. 2014;61(10):533–540.
- Sánchez-GarcĂa A, RodrĂguez-GutiĂ©rrez R, Mancillas-Adame L, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of the triglyceride and glucose index for insulin resistance: a systematic review. Int J Endocrinol. 2020;2020:4678526.
- McLaughlin T, Abbasi F, Cheal K, Chu J, Lamendola C, Reaven G. Use of metabolic markers to identify overweight individuals who are insulin resistant. Ann Intern Med. 2003;139(10):802–809.
- Sumner AE, Finley KB, Genovese DJ, Criqui MH, Boston RC. Fasting triglyceride and the triglyceride-HDL cholesterol ratio are not markers of insulin resistance in African Americans. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165(12):1395–1400.
- PubChem. Triolein (CID 5497163): molecular weight 885.4 g/mol. National Library of Medicine.
- PubChem. Cholesterol (CID 5997): molecular weight 386.7 g/mol. National Library of Medicine.
- PubChem. D-Glucose (CID 5793): molecular weight 180.16 g/mol. National Library of Medicine.