Original Article

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2009) 63, 413–420; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602951; published online 7 November 2007

Dietary carbohydrates, glycemic load and serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations among South Indian adults

Guarantor: V Mohan.

Contributor: GR and AG conducted the statistical analysis. GR wrote the manuscript and conceived the initial hypothesis. GR and RMS led the data collection. VS and VM contributed to the drafting of the paper and several revisions of the same. GR and VM were involved in the interpretation of data. All authors have contributed substantially to conception and design of the study or analyses and interpretation of the data. They approved the final version and will take public responsibility for the content of this paper. There are no conflicts of interest with any other organization.

G Radhika1, A Ganesan1, R M Sathya1, V Sudha1 and V Mohan1

1Madras Diabetes Research Foundation & Dr Mohan's Diabetes Specialities center, Gopalapuram, Chennai, India

Correspondence: Dr V Mohan, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation & Dr Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre, 4, Conran Smith Road, Gopalapuram, Chennai 600 086, India. E-mail: drmohans@vsnl.net, website: www.drmohansdiabetes.com

Received 9 March 2007; Revised 16 July 2007; Accepted 2 October 2007; Published online 7 November 2007.

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Abstract

Objective:

 

To examine the relationship between dietary carbohydrates, glycemic load and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations in Asian Indians, a high-risk group for diabetes and premature coronary artery disease.

Subjects/methods:

 

The study population comprised of 2043 individuals aged greater than or equal to20 years randomly selected from Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiological Study (CURES), an ongoing population-based study on a representative population of Chennai (formerly Madras) city in southern India. Participants with self-reported history of diabetes or heart disease or on drug therapy for dyslipidemia were excluded from the study. Dietary carbohydrates, glycemic index and glycemic load were assessed using a validated interviewer administered semiquantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ).

Results:

 

Both dietary glycemic load (P<0.0001) and total dietary carbohydrate intake (P<0.001) were significantly associated with higher serum triglyceride levels and lower serum HDL-C levels. For the lowest to highest quintile of glycemic load, the multivariate-adjusted mean HDL-C values were 44.1 mg per 100 ml and 41.2 mg per 100 ml (6.6% difference, P for trend<0.001), while for total carbohydrate it was less (5% difference, P for trend=0.016). The pattern of decrease in HDL-C for the lowest to highest quintile of glycemic load was more pronounced among men (1st vs 5th quintile: adjusted HDL-C: 4.3 mg per 100 ml decrease (10.3%)) than women (1st vs 5th quintile: adjusted HDL-C: 3.2 mg per 100 ml decrease (6.9%)).

Conclusion:

 

Our findings indicate that both total carbohydrates and dietary glycemic load intake are inversely associated with plasma HDL-C concentrations among Asian Indians, with dietary glycemic load having a stronger association.

Keywords:

carbohydrates, glycemic load, glycemic index, HDL-cholesterol, Asian Indians, South Asians

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