Glycaemic index and glycaemic load in relation to blood lipids - 6 years of follow-up in adult Danish men and women.
BACKGROUND
Cross-sectional studies have suggested an association between glycaemic index (GI) or glycaemic load (GL) and serum lipids. However, no prospective studies have been performed.


OBJECTIVE
To examine whether GI or GL was associated with subsequent changes in serum lipids.


METHODS
Prospective study with 6 years of follow-up. Overall dietary GI and GL of each participant were assessed from diet history interviews.


METHODS
Population-based study. Subjects Three hundred and thirty-five healthy men and women aged 35-65 years selected randomly from a larger sample of Danish adults.


RESULTS
In men GI was directly related to changes in total cholesterol (DeltaTC), regression coefficient (beta) = 0.0044 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0008-0.0081) and GL was positively related to changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (DeltaLDL), beta = 0.1554 (95% CI: 0.0127-0.2982). Furthermore, the relationship between GL and DeltaTC was modified by age, being particularly strong for the younger men (P = 0.02). In women the relationship between GI and DeltaLDL was modified by age and was stronger for younger rather than older women (P = 0.01). A tendency for a similar interaction was seen for GI and DeltaTC (P = 0.09). Associations between GL and DeltaLDL and GL and DeltaTC were inverse for women with body mass index > or = 30 kg m(-2) (P = 0.03 and 0.04, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to demonstrate that dietary GI and GL are related to 6-year changes in serum lipid levels. However, associations were weak and generally confined to subgroups.
Oxlund
Anne Lene
AL
Research Unit for Dietary Studies and Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Øster Søgade 18, 1357 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
Heitmann
Berit Lilienthal
BL
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D038321:Glycemic Index; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D008055:Lipids; D002784:Cholesterol