title: Assessment of glycemic load and intake of carbohydrates in the diet of Wroclaw Medical University students (Poland).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glycemic Load (GL) is one of the indicators that can be used to assess the nutritional value of the diet. The results of numerous studies have shown that high glycemic index and/or high GL diets were associated with increased risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate dietary GL, intake of food products which are source of carbohydrates and contribution of particular carbohydrates in students' diets.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 140 female students from Wroclaw (Poland) aged 21±1.6 years. The dietary assessment was performed using food frequency-questionnaire. The GL of daily food ration (DFR) was considered low for values <80 g, medium for values between 80-120 g and high for values >120 g.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean GL of the diets was 120.7±42 g. DFR of 12.1% of the students had low GL, 46.6% - medium, and 39.3% - high. Diets in the 4th quartile of GL were characterized by the highest energy value, total carbohydrate, sucrose, starch and fiber content and energy contribution from carbohydrates when compared with lower quartiles. Higher percentage of energy from protein and fats in the diets was related with lower dietary GL. The highest correlation coefficient between GL and weight of the consumed food was observed for sweets (r=0.67), cereal products (r=0.52), juices and sweetened beverages (r=0.50), vegetables (r=0.45) and fruits (r=0.44). In the study, cereal products, fruits, sweets, vegetables and juices and sweetened beverages consumed by the female subjects constituted respectively 26.6%, 12.8%, 11.4%, 9.1% and 8.8% of the total dietary GL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower dietary GL in the female students participating in the study can be achieved by limiting the intake of sweets and sweet beverages as well as consuming cereal products with a low GI.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  glycemic index, glycemic load, carbohydrates, students, diet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics, Wroclaw Medical University, 34 Parkowa street, 51-616 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Różańska
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics, Wroclaw Medical University, 34 Parkowa street, 51-616 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawicka
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics, Wroclaw Medical University, 34 Parkowa street, 51-616 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Klaudia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konikowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics, Wroclaw Medical University, 34 Parkowa street, 51-616 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 44 O. Bujwida street, 50-345 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zatońska
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, 4th Military Hospital in Wroclaw, 5 Weigla street, 50-981 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szuba
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics, Wroclaw Medical University, 34 Parkowa street, 51-616 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Bożena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Regulska-Ilow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology; D038321:Glycemic Index; D006801:Humans; D011044:Poland; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates