Carbohydrate-induced hypertriglyceridaemia among West Indian diabetic and non-diabetic subjects after ingestion of three local carbohydrate foods.
OBJECTIVE
Studies suggest that the link between postprandial hyperglycaemia and cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus might be related to postprandial hypertriglyceridaemia and the increased levels of the highly atherogenic small and dense low density lipoprotein (LDL) particles. In this study we therefore aimed to determine which of the three popular carbohydrate foods has the highest potential of increasing postprandial triglyceride levels in type 2 diabetic patients and in healthy non diabetic individuals.


METHODS
All subjects were studied on three different occasions seven days apart after an overnight fast. On each day of study, anthropometric indices were measured and after collecting fasting blood sample, subjects consumed bread, roti or rice within 10 min and water taken as wished. Subsequently, 7 ml of venous blood samples were collected at 60, 90, 120 and 150 min for insulin, glucose and lipids determinations.


RESULTS
The diabetic and non diabetic healthy subjects had similar baseline body mass index, insulin, triglyceride, total and LDL-cholesterol. The mean percentage triglyceride increase after ingestion of the test foods was highest with bread and lowest with rice irrespective of diabetic status or ethnicity, and despite similar baseline triglyceride, insulin and body mass index levels, the diabetic patients of East Indian origin had comparatively higher incremental triglyceride levels for the three test foods than those of African origin.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrary to anecdotal perception, the commercially prepared whole wheat bread has the highest propensity to induce hypertriglyceridaemia especially among diabetic patients of East Indian origin.
Ezenwaka
Chidum E
CE
Unit of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad. ezenwaka@tstt.net.tt
Kalloo
Risha
R
D001939:Bread / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012275:Oryza / Q000009:adverse effects; D019518:Postprandial Period; D014900:West Indies
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates