An Insulin Index of Foods

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"An Insulin Index of Foods: The Insulin Demand Generated by 1000-kJ Portions of Common Foods"
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 66: 1264-1276 1997 Susanne HA Holt, Janette C Brand Miller, and Peter Petocz

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to systematically compare postprandial insulin responses to isoenergetic 1000 kJ (240-kcal) portions of several common foods. Correlations with nutrient content were determined. Thirty-eight foods separated into six food categories (fruit, bakery products, snacks, carbohydrate-rich foods, protein-rich foods, and breakfast cereals) were fed to groups of 11-13 healthy subjects. Finger-prick blood samples were obtained every 15 min over 120 min. An insulin score was calculated from the area under the insulin response curve for each food with use of white bread as the reference food (score

• 100%). Significant differences in insulin score were found both within and among the food categories and also among foods containing a similar amount of carbohydrate. Overall, glucose and insulin scores were highly correlated (r = 0.70, P < 0.001, n = 38). However, protein-rich foods and bakery products (rich in fat and refined carbohydrate elicited insulin responses that were disproportionately higher than their glycemic responses. Total carbohydrate (r = 0.39, P < 0.05, n = 36) and sugar (r = 0.36, P < 0.05,n = 36) contents were positively related to the mean insulin scores, whereas fat (r = -0.27, NS, n = 36) and protein (r = -0.24, NS ,n = 38) contents were negatively related. Consideration of insulin scores may be relevant to the dietary management and pathogenesis of non-insulin-dependant diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia and may help increase the accuracy of estimating preprandial insulin requirements.

(From Table 4)

        Food               Glucose Score   Insulin Score
                                  %                %
________________________________________________________
   white bread                 100              100

 Breakfast Cereals
   All-Bran                     40               32
   Porridge                     60               40
   Muesli                       60               40
   Special K                    70               66
   Honeysmacks                  60               67
   Sustain                      66               71
   Cornflakes                   76               75

 Carbohydrate-rich foods
   White pasta                  46               40
   Brown pasta                  68               40
   Grain bread                  60               56
   Brown rice                  104               62
   French Fries                 71               74
   White rice                  110               79
   Whole-meal bread             97               96
   White bread                 100              100
   Potatoes                    141              121

 Protein-rich foods
   Eggs                         42               31
   Cheese                       55               45
   Beef                         21               51
   Lentils                      62               58
   Fish                         28               59
   Baked beans                 114              120

 Fruit
   Apples                       50               59
   Oranges                      39               60
   Bananas                      79               81
   Grapes                       74               82

 Snacks and Confectionary
   Peanuts                      12               20
   Popcorn                      62               54
   Potato chips                 52               61
   Ice Cream                    70               89
   Yogurt                       62              115
   Mars bar                     79              122
   Jellybeans                  118              160

 Bakery products
   Doughnuts                    63               74
   Croissants                   74               79
   Cake                         56               82
   Crackers                    118               87
   Cookies                      74               92

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