Low–Glycemic-Load Diet Lowers CV Risk

A diet with a low glycemic load—a measure of how readily foods are digested—appears to be more effective than conventional low-calorie, low-fat diets in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a recent report.

Researchers conducted a randomized, controlled study to compare an ad libitum low–glycemic-load diet, with 45–50% of calories from carbohydrates and 30–35% of calories from fat, with a conventional calorie-restricted diet that derived 55–60% of calories from carbohydrates and <30% from fat.

Over a 6-month period, body weight decreased in people on both diets. But those on the low–glycemic-load diet had significantly lower triglycerides and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). No difference between the two diets was noted in levels of cholesterol, blood pressure, or insulin sensitivity.

“An ad libitum low–glycemic-load diet may be more efficacious than a conventional, energy-restricted, low-fat diet in reducing cardiovascular disease risk,” researchers conclude.