Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Use of the glycemic index for weight loss and glycemic control: A review of recent evidence

  • Published:
Current Diabetes Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article summarizes current findings regarding the use of low-glycemic index (GI) diets for weight loss and type 2 diabetes control. Results from cross-sectional studies evaluating the association between dietary GI and body mass index had equivocal results, especially when dietary fiber was included in the model. Of five prospective cohort studies, two reported increased risk of type 2 diabetes diagnosis with higher dietary GI or glycemic load (GL). Risk of type 2 diabetes appeared to have a stronger association with carbohydrate intake or GL than with GI. Evidence from intervention studies using a low-GI approach for weight loss produced inconsistent results, especially for longer-term studies. In intervention studies with type 2 diabetes patients, consumption of a low-GI diet resulted in lower hemoglobin A1c concentrations in participants of shorter-term studies. Recent evidence adds to the controversy regarding the effectiveness of consuming low-GI diets for glycemic control and weight reduction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. Jenkins DJ, Wolever TM, Taylor RH, et al.: Glycemic index of foods: a physiological basis for carbohydrate exchange. Am J Clin Nutr 1981, 34:362–366.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Wolever TM, Jenkins DJ, Jenkins AL, Josse RG: The glycemic index: methodology and clinical implications. Am J Clin Nutr 1991, 54:846–854.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Salmerón J, Ascherio A, Rimm EB, et al.: Dietary fiber, glycemic load, and risk of NIDDM in men. Diabetes Care 1997, 20:545–550.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Salmerón J, Manson JE, Stampfer MJ, et al.: Dietary fiber, glycemic load, and risk of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in women. JAMA 1997, 227:472–477.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Liu S, Willett WC, Stampfer MJ, et al.: A prospective study of dietary glycemic load, carbohydrate intake, and risk of coronary heart disease in US women. Am J Clin Nutr 2000, 71:1455–1461.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lau C, Faerch K, Glumer C, et al.: Dietary glycemic index, glycemic load, fiber, simple sugars, and insulin resistance: the Inter99 study. Diabetes Care 2005, 28:1397–1403.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Barclay AW, Petocz P, McMillan-Price J, et al.: Glycemic index, glycemic load, and chronic disease risk: a metaanalysis of observational studies. Am J Clin Nutr 2008, 87:627–637.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Food and Agriculture Organization: Carbohydrates in Human Nutrition: A Summary of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation, 1997. Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization (United Nations); 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Mayer-Davis EJ, Dhawan A, Liese AD, et al.: Towards understanding of glycaemic index and glycaemic load in habitual diet: associations with measures of glycaemia in the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study. Br J Nutr 2006, 95:397–405.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Brand-Miller JC: Importance of glycemic index in diabetes. Am J Clin Nutr 1994, 59(Suppl):747S–752S.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Brand-Miller J, Hayne S, Petocz P, Colagiuri S: Low-glycemic index diets in the management of diabetes. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Diabetes Care 2003, 26:2261–2267.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Opperman AM, Venter CS, Oosthuizen W, et al.: Meta-analysis of the health effects of using the glycaemic index in meal planning. Br J Nutr 2004, 92:367–381.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Thomas D, Elliott Elizabeth J: Low glycaemic index, or low glycaemic load, diets for diabetes mellitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009, (1):CD006296.

  14. Gaesser GA: Carbohydrate quantity and quality in relation to body mass index. J Am Diet Assoc 2007, 107:1768–1780.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Ma Y, Olendzki B, Chiriboga D, et al.: Association between dietary carbohydrates and body weight. Am J Epidemiol 2005, 161:359–367.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Schaumberg DA, Liu S, Seddon JM, et al.: Dietary glycemic load and risk of age-related cataract. Am J Clin Nutr 2004, 80:489–495.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Raben A: Should obese patients be counseled to follow a low-glycaemic index diet? No. Obes Rev 2002, 3:245–256.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Pawlak DB, Ebbeling CB, Ludwig DS: Should obese patients be counseled to follow a low-glycaemic index diet? Yes. Obes Rev 2002, 3:235–243.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Thomas D, Elliott EJ, Baur L: Low glycaemic index or low glycaemic load diets for overweight and obesity. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007, (3):CD005105.

  20. Mendez MA, Covas MI, Marrugat J, et al.: Glycemic load, glycemic index, and body mass index in Spanish adults. Am J Clin Nutr 2009, 89:316–322.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Davis JN, Alexander KE, Ventura EE, et al.: Associations of dietary sugar and glycemic index with adiposity and insulin dynamics in overweight Latino youth. Am J Clin Nutr 2007, 86:1331–1338.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Murakami K, Sasaki S, Okubo H, et al.: Dietary fiber intake, dietary glycemic index and load, and body mass index: a cross-sectional study of 3931 Japanese women aged 18–20 years. Eur J Clin Nutr 2007, 61:986–995.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Halton TL, Liu S, Manson JE, Hu FB: Low-carbohydrate-diet score and risk of type 2 diabetes in women. Am J Clin Nutr 2008, 87:339–346.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Villegas R, Liu S, Gao YT, et al.: Prospective study of dietary carbohydrates, glycemic index, glycemic load, and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in middle-aged Chinese women. Arch Intern Med 2007, 167:2310–2316.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Sahyoun NR, Anderson AL, Tylavsky FA, et al.: Dietary glycemic index and glycemic load and the risk of type 2 diabetes in older adults. Am J Clin Nutr 2008, 87:126–131.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Barclay AW, Flood VM, Rochtchina E, et al.: Glycemic index, dietary fiber, and risk of type 2 diabetes in a cohort of older Australians. Diabetes Care 2007, 30:2811–2813.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Mosdøl A, Witte DR, Frost G, et al.: Dietary glycemic index and glycemic load are associated with high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol at baseline but not with increased risk of diabetes in the Whitehall II study. Am J Clin Nutr 2007, 86:988–994.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. de Rougemont A, Normand S, Nazare JA, et al.: Beneficial effects of a 5-week low-glycaemic index regimen on weight control and cardiovascular risk factors in overweight nondiabetic subjects. Br J Nutr 2007, 98:1288–1298.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Abete I, Parra D, Martinez JA: Energy-restricted diets based on a distinct food selection affecting the glycemic index induce different weight loss and oxidative response. Clin Nutr 2008, 27:545–551.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Maki KC, Rains TM, Kaden VN, et al.: Effects of a reduced-glycemic-load diet on body weight, body composition, and cardiovascular disease risk markers in overweight and obese adults. Am J Clin Nutr 2007, 85:724–734.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Philippou E, McGowan BMC, Brynes AE, et al.: 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. Eur J Clin Nutr 2007, 62:145–149.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Bellisle F, Dalix AM, De Assis MA, et al.: Motivational effects of 12-week moderately restrictive diets with or without special attention to the Glycaemic Index of foods. Br J Nutr 2007, 97:790–798.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Das SK, Gilhooly CH, Golden JK, et al.: Long-term effects of 2 energy-restricted diets differing in glycemic load on dietary adherence, body composition, and metabolism in CALERIE: a 1-y randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2007, 85:1023–1030.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Sichieri R, Moura AS, Genelhu V, et al.: An 18-mo randomized trial of a low-glycemic-index diet and weight change in Brazilian women. Am J Clin Nutr 2007, 86:707–713.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Aston LM, Stokes CS, Jebb SA: No effect of a diet with a reduced glycaemic index on satiety, energy intake and body weight in overweight and obese women. Int J Obes 2007, 32:160–165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Jenkins DJ, Kendall CW, McKeown-Eyssen G, et al.: Effect of a low-glycemic index or a high-cereal fiber diet on type 2 diabetes: a randomized trial. JAMA 2008, 300:2742–2753.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Wolever TM, Gibbs AL, Mehling C, et al.: The Canadian Trial of Carbohydrates in Diabetes (CCD), a 1-y controlled trial of low-glycemic-index dietary carbohydrate in type 2 diabetes: no effect on glycated hemoglobin but reduction in C-reactive protein. Am J Clin Nutr 2008, 87:114–125.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Wolever T, Mehling C, Chiasson JL, et al.: Low glycaemic index diet and disposition index in type 2 diabetes (the Canadian trial of Carbohydrates in Diabetes): a randomised controlled trial. Diabetologia 2008, 51:1607–1615.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Ma Y, Olendzki BC, Merriam PA, et al.: A randomized clinical trial comparing low-glycemic index versus ADA dietary education among individuals with type 2 diabetes. Nutrition 2008, 24:45–56.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Amano Y, Sugiyama M, Lee JS, et al.: Glycemic index-based nutritional education improves blood glucose control in Japanese adults: a randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Care 2007, 30:1874–1876.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. White AM, Johnston CS: Vinegar ingestion at bedtime moderates waking glucose concentrations in adults with wellcontrolled type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2007, 30:2814–2815.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Johnston CS, Gaas CA: Vinegar: medicinal uses and antiglycemic effect. Med Gen Med 2006, 8:61.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Dansinger ML, Gleason JA, Griffith JL, et al.: Comparison of the Atkins, Ornish, Weight Watchers, and Zone Diets for weight loss and heart disease risk reduction: a randomized trial. JAMA 2005, 293:43–53.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Sacks FM, Bray GA, Carey VJ, et al.: Comparison of weight-loss diets with different compositions of fat, protein, and carbohydrates. N Engl J Med 2009, 360:859–873.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Venn BJ, Green TJ: Glycemic index and glycemic load: measurement issues and their effect on diet-disease relationships. Eur J Clin Nutr 2007, 61(Suppl 1):S122–S131.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Vega-López S, Ausman LM, Griffith JL, Lichtenstein AH: Interindividual variability and intra-individual reproducibility of glycemic index values for commercial white bread. Diabetes Care 2007, 30:1412–1417.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Williams SM, Venn BJ, Perry T, et al.: Another approach to estimating the reliability of glycaemic index. Br J Nutr 2008, 100:364–372.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Wolever TM, Vorster HH, Björck I, et al.: Determination of the glycaemic index of foods: interlaboratory study. Eur J Clin Nutr 2003, 57:475–482.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. van Bakel MM, Slimani N, Feskens EJ, et al.: Methodological challenges in the application of the glycemic index in epidemiological studies using data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. J Nutr 2009, 139:568–575.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Healthy Lifestyles Research Center, Nutrition Program, College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, 6950 East Williams Field Road, Mesa, AZ, 85212, USA

    Sonia Vega-López

Authors
  1. Sonia Vega-López
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sandra N. Mayol-Kreiser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sonia Vega-López.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vega-López, S., Mayol-Kreiser, S.N. Use of the glycemic index for weight loss and glycemic control: A review of recent evidence. Curr Diab Rep 9, 379–388 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-009-0059-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-009-0059-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation