title: The glycemic index and cardiovascular disease risk.
abstract: Postprandial hyperglycemia is increasingly recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Glycemic "spikes" may adversely affect vascular structure and function via multiple mechanisms, including (acutely and/or chronically) oxidative stress, inflammation, low-density lipoprotein oxidation, protein glycation, and procoagulant activity. Postprandial glycemia can be reliably predicted by considering both the amount and type of carbohydrate. In particular, the glycemic index (GI), a measure of postprandial glycemic potency weight for weight of carbohydrate, has provided insights that knowledge of the sugar or starch content has not. In prospective observational studies, dietary GI and/or glycemic load independently predict cardiovascular disease, with relative risk ratios of 1.2 to 1.7 comparing highest and lowest quintiles. In randomized controlled trials in overweight subjects, diets based on low-GI carbohydrates have produced better cardiovascular-related outcomes than conventional low-fat diets. Taken together, the findings suggest that health professionals may be able to improve cardiovascular outcomes by recommending the judicious use of low- GI/glycemic load foods.
authors: Human Nutrition Unit (G08), University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia. j.brandmiller@mmb.usyd.edu.au
authors: Jennie
authors: J
authors: Brand-Miller
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Dickinson
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Barclay
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Celermajer
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D038321:Glycemic Index; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004043:Dietary Fiber