Overall glycemic index and glycemic load of vegan diets in relation to plasma lipoproteins and triacylglycerols.
BACKGROUND
To investigate the overall glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL), and intake of dietary fiber, and to examine the associations between these factors and plasma lipoproteins and triacylglycerols in adult vegans in the German Vegan Study (GVS).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study, Germany. Healthy men (n = 67) and women (n = 87), who fulfilled the study criteria (vegan diet for >or=1 year prior to study start; minimum age of 18 years; no pregnancy/childbirth during the last 12 months) and who participated in all study segments.


RESULTS
The average dietary GL of the GVS population was 144, and the average GI was 51.4. The adjusted geometric mean total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol concentrations decreased across the increasing quartiles of GL, carbohydrate and dietary fiber intake. The associations between total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and GL density and GI were inconsistent. Also, associations between GI, GL, the intake of carbohydrates, and triacylglycerol concentration were not observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Fiber-rich vegan diets are characterized by a low GI and a low to moderate GL. The data do not support the hypothesis that a carbohydrate-rich diet per se is associated with unfavorable effects on triaclyglycerols that would be predicted to increase the risk of coronary heart disease.
Waldmann
Annika
A
Nutrition Physiology and Human Nutrition Unit, Institute of Food Science, Centre for Applied Chemistry, University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Ströhle
Alexander
A
Koschizke
Jochen W
JW
Leitzmann
Claus
C
Hahn
Andreas
A
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D038321:Glycemic Index; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol