title: Glycaemic index as a determinant of serum HDL-cholesterol concentration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diet influences the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD). Insulin sensitivity and concentrations of HDL cholesterol, two metabolic predictors of CHD, are also influenced by diet. Dietary carbohydrates with a high glycaemic index cause a high postprandial glucose and insulin response, and are associated with decreased insulin sensitivity and an increased risk of CHD. This study examined whether the glycaemic index of dietary carbohydrates is a determinant of serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dietary, anthropometric, and biochemical data from the 1986-87 Survey of British Adults (n=2200) were reanalysed by a multiple regression model, which examined the relation between serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and calculated LDL-cholesterol concentrations and various dietary characteristics, including the type of carbohydrate, the glycaemic index, and fat intake.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 1420 participants with complete data, there was a significant negative relation between serum HDL-cholesterol concentration and the glycaemic index of the diet for both men (regression coefficient -0.00724 [95% CI -0.0101 to -0.00434], p=0.02) and women (-0.01326 [-0.0162 to -0.0102], p<0.0001). No other significant relation was found with total cholesterol or LDL-cholesterol concentration or with any other dietary carbohydrate or fat constituent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a cross-sectional study of middle-aged adults, the glycaemic index of the diet was the only dietary variable significantly related to serum HDL-cholesterol concentration. Thus, the glycaemic index of the diet is a stronger predictor than dietary fat intake of serum HDL-cholesterol concentration.
authors: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK. gfrost@rpms.ac.uk
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Frost
authors: A A
authors: AA
authors: Leeds
authors: C J
authors: CJ
authors: Doré
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Madeiros
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Brading
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Dornhorst
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D002784:Cholesterol