Influence of glycemic load on HDL cholesterol in youth.

Background: The influence of dietary carbohydrate glycemic index on blood lipids has not been well studied. Assessment of glycemic load is not usually included in a standard dietary analysis.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine relations between diet and blood lipids in youth with a broad range of cholesterol values and carbohydrate, fat, and protein intakes.

Design: Relations between blood lipids and dietary constituents were examined in 32 healthy males and females aged 11-25 y. Subjects exhibited a range of LDL-cholesterol values (1.71-6.67 mmol/L) and body mass index z scores (-1.18 to 2.64). Dietary constituents were assessed from 3-d food diaries.

Results: The only significant correlations evident were negative correlations between HDL cholesterol and glycemic load (in relation to white bread), percentage carbohydrate, total dietary sugar, total carbohydrate, and fructose. On stepwise multiple regression analysis, glycemic load accounted for 21.1% of the variation in HDL cholesterol.

Conclusions: Glycemic load appears to be an important independent predictor of HDL cholesterol in youth. This relation is of concern and suggests that dietary restrictions without attention to a possible resulting increase in glycemic load may result in an unfavorable influence on blood lipids.