Glycemic Index and Serum High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Concentration Among US Adults

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Abstract
CARDIOVASCULAR disease remains the leading cause of mortality in the United States, despite notable declines in the cardiovascular-related mortality rate since the 1960s.1 High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is a powerful predictor of the development of coronary heart disease.2-4 Various factors are associated with HDL-C concentrations, including sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), alcohol use, cigarette smoking, and diet.2 In metabolic studies, Katan5 showed that increased intake of carbohydrates reduces HDL-C concentrations. Besides the quantitative relationship between carbohydrate intake and HDL-C concentrations, the quality of the carbohydrate characterized by glycemic index may also affect HDL-C concentrations. For example, a recent study6 reported that glycemic index was the only dietary variable that was associated with HDL-C concentrations in a national study of the adult population in England.