A systematic review and meta-analysis on the association of triglyceride-glucose index levels with risk of gestational diabetes mellitus

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disorder during pregnancy, and the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is among the indicators that can predict the occurrence of gestational diabetes. Accordingly, our goal was to examine the relationship between the TyG index and GDM. Materials and Methods: Databases of Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Google Scholar search engine were used for articles published until September 5, 2025. Data was analyzed using STATA 14. Tests with P values<0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: High TyG index in general (OR:1.77, 95% CI: 1.56, 2), in the second one-third (OR:1.90, 95% CI: 1.08, 3.36), third one-third (OR:3.94, 95% CI: 2.07, 7.50), second quartile (OR:1.24, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.44), third quartile (OR:1.58, 95% CI: 1.28, 1.94), fourth quartile (OR:2.42, 95% CI: 1.85, 3.17), second quantile (OR:1.23, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.43), third quantile (OR:1.44, 95% CI: 1.23, 1.68), fourth quantile (OR:2.15, 95% CI: 1.41, 3.28), fifth quantile (OR:2.92, 95% CI: 1.96, 4.37) increased the risk of GDM. Furthermore, high TyG index levels increased the risk of GDM in China (OR:1.84, 95% CI: 1.59, 2.13), Korea (OR:1.43, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.89), cohort studies (OR:1.82, 95% CI: 1.60, 2.07), women groups with mean ages ≥ 35 (OR:2.54, 95% CI: 1.84, 3.51), and women with BMIs ≥ 25 (OR:2.56, 95% CI: 2.06, 3.18). Conclusion: High TyG index levels increased the risk of GDM by about 77%, and higher TyG index levels led to even higher possibilities of GDM occurrence. Additionally, obese and overweight women and those aged ≥ 35 were more exposed to this disease than other women. Registration: This study has been compiled based on the PRISMA checklist, and its protocol was registered on the PROSPERO (ID: CRD420251143086) and Research Registry (UIN: reviewregistry2046) websites.