Usual dietary glycemic load is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in physically active Brazilian middle-aged men. 2014
BACKGROUND The effects of dietary glycemic load (GL) on cardiometabolic risk factors in physically active subjects are not completely known. OBJECTIVE This cross-sectional study assessed the association of habitual dietary GL with cardiometabolic risk factors in physically active Brazilian middle-aged men. METHODS One-hundred seventy-six subjects (Age: 50.6 ± 5.0 years, BMI: 25.5 ± 3.6 kg/m2) were evaluated. Anthropometry, lifestyle features, insulin resistance, oxidative stress biomarkers (8-iso-prostaglandin F2α; 8-iso-PGF2α and 8- hydroxydeoxyguanosine; 8-OHdG) and lipid profile were assessed. Dietary intake was estimated through a quantitative food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS The dietary GL was positively associated with free fatty acid concentrations (β= 0.311, r2 = 0.13, P-value = 0.034) and triglycerides/HDL cholesterol ratio (β = 0.598, r2 = 0.19, P-value = 0.028) regardless of confounding factors (central obesity, red meat consumption, age and energy intake). The oxidative stress biomarker, 8-OHdG, was associated with habitual dietary GL (β = 0.432, r2 = 0.11, P-value = 0.004), regardless of previous confounding factors plus excessive alcohol consumption, iron intake and current smoking status. CONCLUSIONS The dietary GL was positively associated with lipid profile (free fatty acid concentrations and triglyce rides/HDL cholesterol ratio) and oxidative stress biomarker (8-OHdG). These results indicate potential harmfulness of diet with higher GL to cardiometabolic risk factors in middle-aged men, even in physically active individuals.