Dietary glycemic index and load, measures of glucose metabolism, and body fat distribution in older adults.
BACKGROUND
Recent evidence suggests that the rate of carbohydrate digestion and absorption may influence the development of type 2 diabetes.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine associations of dietary glycemic index and glycemic load with predictors of type 2 diabetes in older adults.


METHODS
This study evaluated cross-sectional relations of dietary glycemic index and glycemic load with measures of glucose metabolism and body fat distribution in participants of the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study, a prospective cohort study of adults aged 70-80 y (n = 2248).


RESULTS
In men, dietary glycemic index was positively associated with 2-h glucose (P for trend = 0.04) and fasting insulin (P for trend = 0.004), inversely associated with thigh intramuscular fat (P for trend = 0.02), and not significantly associated with fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, or visceral abdominal fat. Dietary glycemic load was inversely associated in men with visceral abdominal fat (P for trend = 0.02) and not significantly associated with fasting glucose, 2-h glucose, glycated hemoglobin, fasting insulin, or thigh intramuscular fat. In women, although dietary glycemic index and load were not significantly related to any measures of glucose metabolism or body fat distribution, the association between dietary glycemic index and 2-h glucose was nearly significant (P for trend = 0.06).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this cross-sectional study indicate an association between dietary glycemic index and selected predictors of type 2 diabetes in older adults, particularly in men.
Sahyoun
Nadine R
NR
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. nsahyoun@umd.edu
Anderson
Amy L
AL
Kanaya
Alka M
AM
Koh-Banerjee
Pauline
P
Kritchevsky
Stephen B
SB
de Rekeneire
Nathalie
N
Tylavsky
Frances A
FA
Schwartz
Ann V
AV
Lee
Jung Sun
JS
Harris
Tamara B
TB
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000145:classification / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D038321:Glycemic Index; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D007328:Insulin