Dietary glycemic index and glycemic load and the risk of type 2 diabetes in older adults.
BACKGROUND
It is unclear whether immediate dietary effects on blood glucose influence the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to examine whether the dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) were associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes in older adults.


METHODS
The Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study is a prospective cohort study of 3075 adults who were 70-79 y old at baseline (n=1898 for this analysis). The intakes of specific nutrients and food groups and the risk of type 2 diabetes over a 4-y period were examined according to dietary GI and GL.


RESULTS
Dietary GI was positively associated with dietary carbohydrate and negatively associated with the intakes of protein, total fat, saturated fat, alcohol, vegetables, and fruit. Dietary GL was positively associated with dietary carbohydrate, fruit, and fiber and negatively associated with the intakes of protein, total fat, saturated fat, and alcohol. Persons in the higher quintiles of dietary GI or GL did not have a significantly greater incidence of type 2 diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings do not support a relation between dietary GI or GL and the risk of type 2 diabetes in older adults. Because dietary GI and GL show strong nutritional correlates, the overall dietary pattern should be considered.
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
Tylavsky
Frances A
FA
Lee
Jung Sun
JS
Sellmeyer
Deborah E
DE
Harris
Tamara B
TB
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D038321:Glycemic Index; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins