title: The glycemic index: physiological mechanisms relating to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
abstract: The glycemic index was proposed in 1981 as an alternative system for classifying carbohydrate-containing food. Since then, several hundred scientific articles and numerous popular diet books have been published on the topic. However, the clinical significance of the glycemic index remains the subject of debate. The purpose of this review is to examine the physiological effects of the glycemic index and the relevance of these effects in preventing and treating obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
authors: Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA. david.ludwig@tch.harvard.edu
authors: David S
authors: DS
authors: Ludwig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology*; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D006728:Hormones