Carbs, Glycemic Load Affect HDL

Total carbohydrates and dietary glycemic load intake were inversely associated with plasma HDL concentrations in a recent European Journal of Clinical Nutrition study. The study population comprised of 2,043 20-year-olds randomly selected from Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiological Study (CURES). Participants with self-reported history of diabetes or heart disease or on drug therapy for dyslipidemia were excluded from the study. Both dietary glycemic load and total dietary carbohydrate intake were significantly associated with higher serum triglyceride levels and lower serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. The pattern of decrease in HDL for the lowest to highest quintile of glycemic load was more pronounced among men than women.