Relationship Between Nutritional Risk Index and Inflammatory Markers in Metabolic Syndrome—Synergy and Clinical Significance in Geriatrics: A Systematic Review

The increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in the geriatric population necessitates an in-depth understanding of its interaction with nutritional status and systemic inflammation. There is an urgent need to determine the synergistic effect and clinical significance of the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and C-reactive protein–triglyceride–glucose index (CTI) in this vulnerable category of patients. During the course of the study, a systematic review of scientific literature published over the past 5 years was conducted. For this purpose, the scientometric databases Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar were used. This review included identifying key mechanisms, patterns, and gaps in the data related to the study topic. The analysis confirmed that GNRI and CTI are independent prognostic markers reflecting interrelated pathophysiological processes with a synergistic effect that worsens outcomes in elderly patients with MS. GNRI reliably assesses nutritional status and predicts adverse events, while CTI captures metabolic dysfunction and chronic inflammation, predicting progression and cardiovascular complications. Their interaction—where inflammation worsens nutrition and poor nutrition increases inflammation—creates a vicious cycle. Both indices are simple to use and applicable in routine clinical settings. GNRI and CTI demonstrate strong prognostic value and a synergistic effect, supporting the need for an integrated risk assessment approach in elderly patients with MS. Their combined use enables more precise stratification and targeted interventions to improve nutrition and reduce inflammation. Further research is required to validate this strategy.