[Influence of dietary glycemic index and glycemic load on the occurrence of ischemic heart disease].

BACKGROUND/AIM There are no recommendations for the dietary intake of carbohydrates compared with the dietary intake of lipids in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). The aim of the study was to assess the influence of high dietary glycemic load (GL) on the occurrence of IHD. METHODS The case-control study was carried out between 2003 and 2004. The study group consisted of 290 patients with IHD hospitalized in the Clinical Center in the town of Nis. There were 290 controls admitted to the same medical institution as cases for a wide spectrum of acute conditions unrelated to known or potential risk factors for IHD. The data about risk factors for IHD were collected by the epidemiological questionnaire. The data about nutrition were collected by administered food frequency questionnaire. A total GL for each patient was calculated by the international tables and the standard for the glycemic index (GI) was used. Standard anthropometric measurements were applied. A total level of lipids and cholesterol was determined, too. Multivariate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were obtained by multiple logistic regression models. Statistical analysis was performed with Epi Info Programme (Version 6.04) and with the SPSS for Windows (Release 8.0). RESULTS The patients with IHD had statisticaly significantly different intake of carbohydrate compared with the patients of the control group but the risk of IHD occurrence was not associated with the total intake of carbohydrate. The total average GL in the patients of the study group was statisticaly significantly higher compared with the patients of the control group (p < 0.05) and a high GL was independent risk factor for IHD (OR = 1.99). CONCLUSIONS In prevention of IHD it is recommended to intake food with lower GI, for example vegetabless and fruit.