An Insulin Index of Foods

From: Doug Skrecky (oberon@vcn.bc.ca)
Date: Sat May 27 2000 - 01:47:18 MDT


 "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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