Effect of ethnicity on glycaemic index: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objectives:Low glycaemic index (GI) foods are recommended to improve glycaemic control in diabetes; however, Health Canada considers that GI food labeling would be misleading and unhelpful, in part, because selected studies suggest that GI values are inaccurate due to an effect of ethnicity. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the GI of foods when measured in Caucasians versus non-Caucasians.Methods:We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases for relevant articles. GI differences were aggregated using the generic inverse variance method (random effects model) and expressed as mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Study quality was assessed based on how well studies complied with official international GI methodology.Results:Review of 1288 trials revealed eight eligible studies, including 28 comparisons of GI among 585 non-Caucasians and 971 Caucasians. Overall, there was borderline significant evidence of higher GI in non-Caucasians than Caucasians (MD, 3.3 (95% CI, −0.1, 6.8); P=0.06) with significant heterogeneity (I2, 46% P=0.005). The GI of eight types of rice was higher in non-Caucasians than Caucasians (MD, 9.5 (95% CI, 3.7, 23.1); P=0.001), but there was no significant difference for the other 20 foods (MD, 1.0 (95% CI, −2.5, 4.6); P=0.57). MD was significantly greater in the four low-quality studies (nine comparisons) than the four high-quality studies (19 comparisons; 7.8 vs 0.7, P=0.047).Conclusions:With the possible exception of rice, existing evidence suggests that GI values do not differ when measured in Caucasians versus non-Caucasians. To confirm these findings high-quality studies using a wide range of foods are required.

Comparison of insulin lispro mix 25 with insulin lispro mix 50 as insulin starter in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (CLASSIFY study): Subgroup analysis of a Phase 4 open‐label randomized trial

“…Several Asian studies have demonstrated that LM50 is better in reducing blood glucose excursions than low mixtures, as observed in the present study. It is known that East Asian diets usually contain more carbohydrates, which have a higher glycemic index; therefore, LM50 may be more beneficial to patients with bigger blood glucose excursions than LM25 in Chinese subjects.…”

The effect of oat β-glucan on postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Within each domain, the investigators answered one or more signalling questions and these answers led to judgements of “low risk of bias”, “some concerns”, or “high risk of bias” [ 10 , 15 ]. Study methodology quality was assessed for each trial comparison based on eleven predetermined criteria outlined in Supplementary Table 2 which was adapted from a previous study [ 11 , 16 ]. This assessment identified protocol components that have been established as significant determinants of the accuracy and precision of PPGR measurements [ 17 – 28 ].…”

Discharge pharmacotherapy for Type 2 diabetic inpatients at two hospitals of different tiers in Zhejiang Province, China

“…Compared with the white ethnics, Chinese diabetics are more β cell deficiency-oriented [30,31]. Deficient firstphrase insulin secretion in early β cell dysfunction causes great postprandial hyperglycemia excursion [30] and Chinese carbohydrate-rich diet fuels the flame [32,33]. Epidemiology studies repeatedly verified this characteristic of the population's blood glucose pattern [1,21].…”