The association between carbohydrate quality index and anthropometry, blood glucose, lipid profile and blood pressure in people with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study in Iran.

Background & Aim: Both types and amounts of dietary carbohydrates have always been issues of discussion in diabetes mellitus. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between carbohydrate quality index (CQI) and anthropometry, fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, systolic (SBP), and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure in adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Materials & Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 261 adults with T1DM aged 17-36 years who referred to the Iranian Diabetes Association or Diabetes Clinic of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Dietary data were collected using a 147-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The CQI was calculated from the three indices including dietary fiber, glycemic index (GI), and solid carbohydrates/total carbohydrates ratio. The weight, height, waist circumference, physical activity, HcA1c, SBP, DBP of all participants were measured. Biochemical assessment including serum lipids and FBG levels were analyzed on 81 individuals.

Results: Participants with a higher CQI had a lower body weight, GI, glycemic load, energy, and macronutrient intake (p < 0.05). In addition, after adjustment for age, sex, duration of diabetes, body mass index, physical activity, and energy intake, the lowest level of glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was observed in the third tertile of CQI (β = -0.2; SE = 0.1; p-trend = 0.04). No significant association was observed with respect to CQI with FBG, lipid profile, and blood pressure.

Conclusion: It was concluded that there was an inverse association between CQI and HbA1c. No significant association was found with respect to CQI with FBG, lipid profile and blood pressure.