No Effect on Cardiovascular Risk Factors of High– vs. Low–Glycemic Index Diets

Not all carbohydrates are created equal when it comes to their effects on blood glucose, which are measured as glycemic index. The relation between glycemic index and cardiovascular risk factors has not been delineated clearly, because other dietary factors and lifestyle modifications tend to confound this association. In this controlled crossover feeding study, 163 mildly hypertensive, overweight adults consumed at least two of four possible diets, in random order, each for 5 weeks. The diets were combinations of high or low carbohydrate content (58% or 40% of energy) and high or low glycemic indices (≥65 or ≤45 on the glycemic index scale).

The high-carbohydrate, high–glycemic index diet yielded no differences in insulin sensitivity, systo…