Relationship of glycaemic index with cardiovascular risk factors: analysis of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey for people aged 65 and older.
OBJECTIVE
To identify associations between dietary glycaemic index (GI) and weight, body mass index and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) - waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), lipoprotein fractions, triacylglycerols (TAG) and blood pressure (BP) - in an older British population.


METHODS
Cross-sectional dietary, anthropometric and biochemical data from the National Diet and Nutritional Survey for adults aged over 65 years were reanalysed using a hierarchical regression model. Associations between body weight, CVD risk factors, and dietary factors including GI and fibre intakes were explored among 1152 healthy older people living in the UK between 1994 and 1995.


RESULTS
In the unadjusted model, GI was significantly and directly associated with TAG (beta = 0.008 +/- 0.003) and diastolic BP (beta = 0.325 +/- 0.164) in males. These relationships were attenuated and non-significant after adjustment for potential confounding factors. WHR (beta = 0.003 +/- 0.001) and TAG (beta = 0.005 +/- 0.002) were significantly predicted by GI in males and females combined. The association with WHR was attenuated by adjustment for sex, age, region and social class; the relationship with TAG was non-significant after adjustment for other potential dietary confounders.


CONCLUSIONS
After controlling for potential confounders, no clear links were detected between GI and body weight or other CVD risk factors. This study provides little evidence for advising the consumption of a low-GI diet in the elderly to prevent weight gain or improve other CVD risk factors.
Milton
Joanne E
JE
Nutrition and Dietetic Research Group, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK.
Briche
Blandine
B
Brown
Ian J
IJ
Hickson
Mary
M
Robertson
Claire E
CE
Frost
Gary S
GS
D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D038321:Glycemic Index; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires