Homeostatic model assessment

The homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) is a method used to quantify insulin resistance and beta-cell function. It was first described under the name HOMA by Matthews et al. in 1985.

Derivation
The HOMA authors used data from physiological studies to develop mathematical equations describing glucose regulation as a feedback loop.&lt;ref&gt;Turner et al. (1979) Insulin deficiency and insulin resistance interaction in diabetes: estimation of their relative contribution by feedback analysis from basal plasma insulin and glucose concentrations. Metabolism 28: 1086-96.&lt;/ref&gt; They published computer software that solves the equations, so that insulin resistance and β-cell function can be estimated from fasting glucose and insulin levels. They also published an equation (see below) that gave approximately the same answers as an early version of the computer software.&lt;ref name="Mathews1985"&gt;Matthews et al. (1985) Homeostasis model assessment: insulin resistance and B-cell function from fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in man. Diabetologia 28: 412-9.&lt;/ref&gt;

The computer model has since been improved to a HOMA2 model&lt;ref name="Rudenski"&gt; &lt;/ref&gt; to better reflect human physiology and recalibrated to modern insulin assays. In this updated version it is possible to determine insulin sensitivity and β-cell function from paired fasting plasma glucose and Radioimmunoassay insulin, specific insulin, or C-peptide concentrations. The authors recommend the computer software be used wherever possible.&lt;ref name="Wallace2004"&gt;Wallace et al. (2004) Use and Abuse of HOMA modeling. Diabetes Care 27:1487-95.&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;Levy et al. (1998) Correct Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) Evaluation uses the computer program. Diabetes Care 21: 2191-2.&lt;/ref&gt;.