The effect of a 12-week low glycaemic index diet on heart disease risk factors and 24 h glycaemic response in healthy middle-aged volunteers at risk of heart disease: a pilot study
Abstract
Objective To compare the effects of two energy-restricted healthy diets, one with a low GI and one with a high GI, on heart disease risk factors and weight loss in subjects at risk of heart disease.Design A 12-week randomized parallel study of low and high GI, healthy eating diets was carried out.Setting The study was carried out at the Hammersmith Hospital.Subjects Eighteen subjects were recruited by advertisement and randomized to one of the two diets. Fourteen completed the study but one was excluded from the final analysis.Methods At randomization, subjects were advised to follow the intervention diet for 12 weeks. Before randomization and on completion of the study, anthropometrics, fasting cholesterol and glucose blood tests and 24-h glucose measurements were taken using a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS). Statistical analysis was carried out using non-parametric tests. Median (IQR) are presented.Results A significantly different dietary GI was achieved in the low GI (median: 51.3 (IQR: 51.0-52.0) compared to the high GI (59.3 (59.2-64.0) (P=0.032) group. By week 12, both groups reduced their energy intake by: low GI group: (-)167 ((-)312-(-)123) kcal/day (P=0018) vs high GI group: (-)596 ((-)625-(-)516) (P=0.018) kcal/day, the difference between the groups being significant (P=0.010). However, only the low GI group lost weight ((-)4.0 ((-)4.4-(-)2.4) kg (P=0.018) whereas the high GI group did not significantly change in weight ((-)1.5 ((-)3.6-0.8) kg (P=0.463). By week 12, the low GI group also had a significantly lower 24-h area under the curve (AUC) (7556 (7315-8434) vs 8841 (8424-8846) mmol-h/l (P=0.045) and overnight AUC (2429 (2423-2714) vs 3000 (2805-3072) mmol-h/l (P=0.006) glucose as measured by CGMS. There were no differences in the other heart disease risk factors assessed.Conclusions This pilot study provides some evidence that consuming a low GI diet in addition to weight loss and healthy eating may reduce cardiovascular risk. Other potential benefits of GI might have been masked by weight loss in the low GI group. Larger-scale studies need to follow.
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A causal relationship has been demonstrated between postprandial hyperglycemia and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
“and increased the risk of cardiovascular diseases occurring [12, 13].”
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References 23 · Cited by 34
- Authors
- Philippou, E., McGowan, B. M. C., Brynes, A. E., Dornhorst, A., Leeds, A. R., & Frost, G. S.
- Affiliations
- Hammersmith Hospital (GB)
- Imperial College London (GB)
- King's College London (GB)
- University of Surrey (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Frost, G S
- Venue
- European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Published
- 2007-02-21
- Volume
- 62
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 145-149
- ISSN
- 0954-3007 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-5640
- OpenAlex
- W2041161005
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2014: 5 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 2.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Open Research (University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
- Surrey Research Insight Open Access (The University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Food composition and properties
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Diet and metabolism studies
- Keywords
- low glycemic index diet, heart disease risk factors, continuous glucose monitoring, weight loss, caloric restriction, cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, middle-aged adults, dietary intervention, cardiovascular risk reduction, energy intake reduction
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Blood Glucose, Cholesterol, Diet, Reducing, Dietary Carbohydrates, Female, Glucose Tolerance Test, Heart Diseases, Humans, Insulin, Intestinal Absorption, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Pilot Projects, Risk Factors, Weight Loss, Area Under Curve, Glycemic Index
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