++Diagnostic Usefulness of HOMA-β and HOMA-IR in Diabetes Mellitus –A Review

ABSTRACT

Homeostatic model of assessment (HOMA) is a statistical method for assessing pancreatic β – cell function (HOMA - β) andinsulin resistance (HOMA – IR). Both are calculated using fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and insulin but with differentformulae. A modified form of HOMA is emerging using Connective Peptide (C - Peptide) concentration, but studies based onthis have been very limited. More than 500 research papers have been published about the use of HOMA to assess DiabetesMellitus (DM) and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), but the main area of its application is in the field of DM. HOMA – IRhas been diagnostically more useful in all types of DM and obesity, in assessing prediabetes and detecting DM in theelderly. It has also been found to be useful during the gestational period. HOMA indices have been widely used along withGlycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c), but good standardization is very important for better clinical use of HOMA. This reviewarticle has given condensed highlights on the clinical usefulness of HOMA in monitoring the control of DM at various stagesusing simple formulae to calculate HOMA indices. The parameters used were FPG and insulin. HOMA indices were alsocompared with other parameters such as HbA1c and two emerging parameters Obstatin and Visfatin, but very few studieshave been reported about their clinical usefulness. The contents of this review articles can be very useful for futureresearchers to expand the application of HOMA indices to the other diseases induced by the uncontrolled DM