(18-07-12) Prediction of postprandial glycemia and insulinemia in lean, young, healthy adults: glycemic load compared with carboidr ate content

Prediction of postprandial glycemia and insulinemia in lean, young, healthy adults: glycemic load compared with carboidr ate content alone

Bao J, Atkinson F, Petocz P, Willett WC, Brand-Miller JC.
Source
Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition & Exercise and the School of Molecular Biosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Dietary glycemic load (GL; defined as the mathematical product of the glycemic index and carbohydrate content) is increasingly used in nutritional epidemiology. Its ability to predict postprandial glycemia and insulinemia for a wide range of foods or mixed meals is unclear.
OBJECTIVE:
Our objective was to assess the degree of association between calculated GL and observed glucose and insulin responses in healthy subjects consuming isoenergetic portions of single foods and mixed meals.
DESIGN:
In study 1, groups of healthy subjects consumed 1000-kJ portions of 121 single foods in 10 food categories. In study 2, healthy subjects consumed 2000-kJ servings of 13 mixed meals. Foods and meals varied widely in macronutrient content, fiber, and GL. Glycemia and insulinemia were quantified as area under the curve relative to a reference food (= 100).
RESULTS:
Among the single foods, GL was a more powerful predictor of postprandial glycemia and insulinemia than was the available carbohydrate content, explaining 85% and 59% of the observed variation, respectively (P < 0.001). Similarly, for mixed meals, GL was also the strongest predictor of postprandial glucose and insulin responses, explaining 58% (P = 0.003) and 46% (P = 0.01) of the variation, respectively. Carbohydrate content alone predicted the glucose and insulin responses to single foods (P < 0.001) but not to mixed meals.
CONCLUSION:
These findings provide the first large-scale, systematic evidence of the physiologic validity and superiority of dietary GL over carbohydrate content alone to estimate postprandial glycemia and insulin demand in healthy individuals. This trial was registered at ANZCTR.org as ACTRN12610000484044.

Source: Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 May;93(5):984-96. Epub 2011 Feb 16.

News

---

In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.