Assessment of Insulin Resistance Using Fasting Biochemical Markers and its Association with Basal Metabolic Rate Variations

Abstract

Objective: To assess insulin resistance using fasting biochemical markers and to evaluate its association with variations in basal metabolic rate.

Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 120 participants aged 20–60 years. Fasting blood samples were collected to measure glucose, insulin and lipid profile parameters. Insulin resistance was calculated using the Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA-IR). Basal metabolic rate was estimated using the Harris-Benedict equation. Participants were categorized into insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant groups. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22 and correlations between HOMA-IR and BMR were assessed.

Results: The mean age of participants was 38.6 ± 10.2 years with a mean BMI of 26.1 ± 4.3 kg/m². Insulin resistance was present in 61.7% of participants. The insulin-resistant group showed a significantly higher BMR (1622.8 ± 245.7 kcal/day) compared to the insulin-sensitive group (1485.6 ± 210.4 kcal/day) (p = 0.012). A moderate positive correlation was observed between HOMA-IR and BMR (r = 0.34, p = 0.004).

Conclusion: Insulin resistance is highly prevalent and is significantly associated with increased basal metabolic rate. Fasting biochemical markers provide a simple and effective method for its assessment. Understanding this relationship may help in early identification and management of metabolic disorders.