Glycemic index and Glycemic Load in Relation with Metabolic Syndrome and its Components

Metabolic syndrome is a clustering of metabolic abnormalities that increase the risk of chronic disease such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This study aimed at examing the associations between dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) intake using the three definition of metabolic syndrome (Mets) and each of their components.

Blood samples and 24-hour dietary recalls were obtained from 120 healthy adults, without Mets or diabetes, aged ≥40 yr, participants of the Tehran Glucose and Lipid study, in the east of Tehran. Anthropometric indices, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, trygliceride, LDL-cholestrol and HDL-cholestrol were determined and GI and GL were measured in those who developed Mets after six years and results were compared to those subjects without Mets. Mets was defined according to criterias set by ATPIII, WHO and IDF.

After adjustment for potential confounding variables, GI and GL were inversely associated with ATPIII and IDF definitions. After adjustment for confounding lifestyle and dietary factors the prevalence of Mets was significantly higher among those in the highest quintile of GI (OR: 4. 5 95%CI: 1-19. 2) and GL(OR: 4. 8 95%CI: 1. 1-20. 6) compared to those in the lowest quintile category. On the other hand, after controlling for potential confounders, subjects in the highest quintile of GI, had higher LDL-cholestrol (P= 0. 005), body mass index (P=0. 003) and lower HDL-cholestrol (P=0. 01), than did those in the lowest quintile. Highest quintile of GL was associated with higher LDL-cholestrol (P= 0. 001) and lower HDL-Cholestrol (P=0. 015).

Results suggest that GI and GL may have unfavorable effects on metabolic syndrome and its components