The insulin resistance syndrome and coronary artery disease

Insulin resistance is an increasingly common metabolic abnormality characterized by an impaired physiological response to insulin. The constellation of insulin resistance and several other metabolic and vascular disorders is known as the insulin resistance syndrome. The characteristic features of the insulin resistance syndrome include central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance and specific abnormalities of both endothelial cell and vascular function. Although insulin resistance can arise in response to aging, obesity and inactivity, there is a clear genetic component. Insulin resistance is not generally attributable to a single genetic defect. Indeed, it is very likely to be a polygenic disorder in most individuals. A genetic predisposition is suggested to be the demonstration of increased insulin resistance in first-degree relatives of patients with diabetes and by a high incidence of insulin resistance in specific populations. Epidemiological data have demonstrated a strong association between a clustering of specific factors and the risk of cardiovascular disease. The diagnosis of the insulin resistance syndrome remains a significant clinical challenge. At present, clinicians are faced with establishing a clinical diagnosis despite varying definitions of the disorder and controversy regarding how many components presage clinical events. A proposed approach to the management of patients with the insulin resistance syndrome is discussed.

Do Nuts Have a Place in a Healthful Diet?

A wealth of nutrition information has been published during the past decade on the healthful nature of nuts. As nut consumption increases, cardiovascular disease risk decreases. This cardioprotective effect of nut consumption is beyond what would be predicted from the fatty acid profile alone. Nuts are a rich source of many other nutrients and bioactive compounds, similar to other whole-plant foods, such as fruits and vegetables. Additional studies during the next decade will delineate additional healthful nutrients of these foods.

Diabetes Mellitus in 2002

As the number of people with diabetes in the United States continues to rise, so does awareness for the role of nutrition counseling to prevent and treat this condition. Lifestyle changes to prevent chronic diseases are being promoted by many professional organizations. For adults, children, and adolescents with diabetes or at risk to develop diabetes, there is a positive role for moderate nutrition changes and regular physical activity.

L-arginine and nitric oxide-related compounds in plasma: comparison of normal and arginine-free diets in a 24-h crossover study

The amino acid L-arginine is the precursor of nitric oxide (NO), a powerful vasodilator with antiplatelet properties. The availability of L-arginine has been suggested to be a rate-limiting factor in the production of NO in conditions such as hypercholesterolemia. It was speculated that fluctuations in plasma concentrations of L-arginine during the day may be dependent upon dietary intake of the amino acid, or other variables, and might modify the elaboration of endogenous NO. Over a 24-h period, the plasma concentrations of L-arginine and NO-related compounds (NOx) were measured during an L-arginine and nitrate/nitrite-free diet (diet A) or a nitrate/nitrite-free diet with a fixed amount of L-arginine intake (3.8 g/d) (diet B) in eight healthy volunteers during a 2-day crossover study. Subjects were randomly selected to begin with diet A or diet B and consumed the other diet on the second day. During diet A, plasma L-arginine decreased significantly from 09.00 to 16.00 (21.4+/-2.0 to 11.9+/-1.1 microg/ml), rose slightly in the evening (to 16.6+/-1.7 microg/ml) and gradually increased during the night. During diet B, plasma L-arginine showed a peak after each meal (approximately 23 microg/ml). Plasma NOx concentrations measured by chemiluminescence did not show any circadian variation on either diet. Plasma L-arginine concentrations change during the day and are influenced by dietary intake. Importantly, plasma NOx do not seem to vary with this pattern in healthy individuals.

Enteral nutrition in the patient with diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a serious and fairly common metabolic disorder that affects carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. Indications for nutritional support are no different for patients with diabetes than in any other patient group. The setting may be recovery from surgery or trauma and transition to solid food is anticipated, or, as a result of permanent injury or stroke, enteral feeding may be the permanent manner of nutrition delivery. Attention must be given to the selection of a macronutrient intake that will optimize blood glucose and lipid control. It is vital that blood glucose concentration be carefully monitored and that over- and underfeeding be avoided.

The role of dietary fats in plant-based diets

In the United States, the notion that low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets are essential for health has grown into an obsession, driven largely by an effort to reduce heart disease and, more recently, certain types of cancer. We know that saturated fatty acids are more closely associated with risk factors for heart disease than are unsaturated fatty acids. Many people believe that plant-based diets are healthy because they are low in fat. However, plant-based diets are not necessarily low-fat. In true plant-based diets, unsaturated fatty acids predominate, whereas saturated fatty acids come largely from animal sources such as dairy products and eggs. Plant-based diets include foods that contain fats, such as nuts and seeds and oils from grains and seeds. The fats in these foods are not associated with increased risk for heart disease. In addition, for people with insulin resistance, higher-fat diets protect against the heart disease risk factors of low HDL-cholesterol concentration, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia, and hyperinsulinemia. Because humans can synthesize fat from dietary carbohydrate, and because our adipose stores and circulating fatty acids reflect dietary intake, scientists understand the relations between the amounts and types of dietary fats and the types of fats found in body fat depots. Consuming dietary fats that are not associated with increased risk of disease can be a part of a healthful diet.

Obesity as an epidemic: facing the challenge

Obesity has reached what some scientists see as epidemic proportions. Clearly, a rethinking of the medical nutritional therapeutic approach is needed. Treatment programs must include a variety of health professionals to facilitate the lifestyle changes needed to treat this condition. There is a role in obesity management for registered dietitians, behaviorists, physicians, exercise physiologists, and geneticists. A chronic disease treatment model is being proposed. Are dietitians ready for the challenge?

Clinical experience with modified enteral formulas for patients with diabetes

Standard tube-feeding formulas may not meet the specific nutritional needs of many patients with impaired glucose tolerance. In particular, standard enteral formulas often cause potentially dangerous increases in blood glucose levels. Clinical experience and studies to date have shown advantages of using disease-specific enteral formulas for these patients. Specialized formulas with increased fiber may improve glycemic control, although the concomitant increases in viscosity of these formulas may limit their usefulness for tube feeding. Glucerna, a specialized formula with low-carbohydrate, high-monounsaturated-fat content that has been enriched with a fiber source that permits tube feeding, has been shown to improve glycemic control and decrease the potential for complications. Appropriate tube feeding for patients with impaired glucose tolerance, however, extends beyond formula composition. Patients also require ongoing blood glucose monitoring, evaluation of gastric motility, and assessment of overall health and nutritional status.

Meals-on-wheels applicants are a population at risk for poor nutritional status

OBJECTIVE

To identify older adults with poor nutritional status among the independent-living elderly applying for meals-on-wheels, and to compare how a self-assessment tool and more traditional criteria identify nutritional risk.

DESIGN

Descriptive study.

SUBJECTS/SETTING

Meals-on-wheels applicants (n = 230 between 60 and 90 years of age (mean age = 77.4 +/- 7 years) who were free from terminal illness. Nutrition assessment data were collected in the home of each participant.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Risk assessment for poor nutritional status was determined using anthropometric, dietary, and laboratory data and with a Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) self-assessment tool-the "DETERMINE Your Nutritional Health" checklist.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES

Differences were assessed using Student's t test for unpaired data.

RESULTS

Seventy-four percent of study participants were found to be at risk for poor nutritional status according to the study criteria, and 98% were at risk for poor nutritional status according to the NSI self-assessment tool.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of the applicants for meals-on-wheels were at risk for poor nutritional status. Thus, many independent-living older adults may need additional nutrition assessment and intervention to remain independent and in good nutritional status.

Relation between dietary vitamin intake and resistance to insulin-mediated glucose disposal in healthy volunteers

The relation between the self-reported intake of various dietary constituents and insulin-mediated glucose disposal was evaluated in 52 healthy volunteers. Insulin-mediated glucose uptake was independently associated with degree of obesity (inversely) and estimates of level of physical activity (directly). An independent relation between increased intake of vitamin A and insulin action was shown, ie, the greater the intake of vitamin A, the more effective was insulin in stimulating glucose disposal. However, there was no independent relation noted between insulin-mediated glucose disposal and estimates of the intake of carbohydrate, protein, amount or kind of fat, fiber, or vitamins C and E. Furthermore, the 20 individuals with estimates of vitamin A consumption > 10 000 IU/d had significantly lower plasma glucose (P < 0.01) and insulin (P < 0.05) responses to oral glucose, and insulin-mediated glucose disposal values that were higher (P < 0.005) than those of the 20 individuals whose estimated vitamin A intake was < 8000 IU/d. These results suggest that vitamin A intake, but not intakes of vitamin C and E, fiber, fat, or carbohydrate is associated with enhanced insulin-mediated glucose disposal.

Relation between insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, postheparin plasma lipoprotein lipase activity, and postprandial lipemia

We examined the relation between insulin resistance, plasma glucose and insulin responses to meals, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, and postprandial lipemia in a population of 37 healthy nondiabetic individuals. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were determined at frequent intervals from 8 AM through midnight (breakfast at 8 AM and lunch at noon); resistance to insulin-mediated glucose disposal was determined by measuring the steady-state plasma glucose (SSPG) concentration at the end of a 180-minute infusion of glucose, insulin, and somatostatin; LPL activity was quantified in postheparin plasma; and postprandial concentrations of triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins were assessed by measuring the TG and retinyl palmitate content in plasma and the Svedberg flotation index (Sf) > 400 and Sf 20 to 400 lipoprotein fractions. Significant simple correlation coefficients were found between various estimates of postprandial lipemia and SSPG (r = .38 to .68), daylong insulin response (r = .37 to .58), daylong glucose response (r = .10 to .39), and LPL activity (r = -.08 to -.58). However, when multiple regression analysis was performed, only SSPG remained independently associated with both postprandial TG and retinyl palmitate concentrations. These data provide evidence that insulin resistance plays an important role in regulating the postprandial concentration of TG-rich lipoproteins, including those of intestinal origin.

Why do low-fat high-carbohydrate diets accentuate postprandial lipemia in patients with NIDDM?

OBJECTIVE

To understand why low-fat high-carbohydrate (CHO) diets lead to higher fasting and postprandial concentrations of triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Patients with NIDDM were placed randomly on diets containing either 55% CHO, 30% fat, and 15% protein or 40% CHO, 45% fat, and 15% protein for 6 weeks, followed by crossover to the other diet. Test meals at the end of each diet period were consumed at 8:00 A.M. and 12:00 P.M. (noon) and contained 20 and 40% of daily calories, respectively. Vitamin A was also given at noon, and TG-rich lipoproteins of intestinal origin were identified by the presence of vitamin A esters. Frequent measurements were made throughout the 24-h study period of plasma glucose, insulin, and TG concentrations. Plasma samples obtained from 12:00 P.M. (noon) until 12 A.M. (midnight) were subjected to ultracentrifugation, and measurements were made of TG and vitamin A ester concentrations in plasma and in both the Svedberg flotation constant (Sf) > 400 (chylomicron) and Sf 20-400 (chylomicron remnant) lipoprotein fractions. In addition, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-TG turnover rate was estimated by following the decay of [3H]VLDL-TG. Finally, postheparin lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase activities were measured at the end of each dietary period.

RESULTS

Mean +/- SE hourly concentrations of glucose (8.0 +/- 0.8 vs. 7.5 +/- 0.7 mmol/l), insulin (184 +/- 26 vs. 158 +/- 19 pmol/l), and TG (2.8 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.1 +/- 0.2 mmol/l) were higher (P < 0.05-0.001) after the 55% CHO diet. The 55% CHO diet also led to an increase (P < 0.05-0.01) in the mean +/- SE hourly concentrations of vitamin A esters in plasma (2.3 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.1 mumol/l) and in both the chylomicron (2.0 +/- 0.3 vs. 1.4 +/- 0.1 mumol/l) and chylomicron remnant fractions (0.36 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.14 +/- 0.03 mumol/l). In addition, the VLDL-TG production rate was higher (17.2 +/- 1.4 vs. 12.8 +/- 1.0 mg.kg-1.h-1, P < 0.003) and the VLDL-TG fractional catabolic rate lower (0.22 +/- 0.02 to 0.28 +/- 0.02 l/h, P < 0.005) after the 55% CHO diet. Finally, there was an increase in lipoprotein lipase activity (7.0 +/- 0.8 to 8.1 +/- 0.7 mumol free fatty acids released .ml-1.h-1, P < 0.02) in response to the CHO-enriched diet.

CONCLUSIONS

A low-fat high-CHO diet in patients with NIDDM led to 1) higher day-long plasma glucose, insulin, and TG concentrations; 2) postprandial accumulation of TG-rich lipoproteins of intestinal origin; 3) increased production of VLDL-TG; and 4) increased postheparin lipoprotein lipase activity. These data provide a mechanism for the hypertriglyceridemic effect of CHO-enriched diets in patients with NIDDM and demonstrate that multiple risk factors for coronary heart disease are accentuated when these individuals consume diets recommended to reduce this risk.

Effects of varying carbohydrate content of diet in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

To study effects of variation in carbohydrate content of diet on glycemia and plasma lipoproteins in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

DESIGN

A four-center randomized crossover trial.

SETTING

Outpatient and inpatient evaluation in metabolic units.

PATIENTS

Forty-two NIDDM patients receiving glipizide therapy.

INTERVENTIONS

A high-carbohydrate diet containing 55% of the total energy as carbohydrates and 30% as fats was compared with a high-monounsaturated-fat diet containing 40% carbohydrates and 45% fats. The amounts of saturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, cholesterol, sucrose, and protein were similar. The study diets, prepared in metabolic kitchens, were provided as the sole nutrients to subjects for 6 weeks each. To assess longer-term effects, a subgroup of 21 patients continued the diet they received second for an additional 8 weeks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Fasting plasma glucose, insulin, lipoproteins, and glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations. Twenty-four-hour profiles of glucose, insulin, and triglyceride levels.

RESULTS

The site of study as well as the diet order did not affect the results. Compared with the high-monounsaturated-fat diet, the high-carbohydrate diet increased fasting plasma triglyceride levels and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by 24% (P < .0001) and 23% (P = .0001), respectively, and increased daylong plasma triglyceride, glucose, and insulin values by 10% (P = .03), 12% (P < .0001), and 9% (P = .02), respectively. Plasma total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels remained unchanged. The effects of both diets on plasma glucose, insulin, and triglyceride levels persisted for 14 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

In NIDDM patients, high-carbohydrate diets compared with high-monounsaturated-fat diets caused persistent deterioration of glycemic control and accentuation of hyperinsulinemia, as well as increased plasma triglyceride and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, which may not be desirable.

Nutrition principles for the management of diabetes and related complications

Health professionals and people with diabetes recognize nutrition therapy as one of the most challenging aspects of diabetes care and education (1). Adherence to meal planning principles requires the person with diabetes to learn specific nutrition recommendations. It may require altering previous patterns of eating and implementing new eating behaviors, which requires motivation for a healthy lifestyle and may also require participation in exercise programs. Finally, individuals must be able to evaluate the effectiveness of these lifestyle changes. Despite these challenges, nutrition is an essential component of successful diabetes management.

Effect of variations in dietary fat and carbohydrate intake on postprandial lipemia in patients with noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus

The effect of dietary composition on concentrations of postprandial lipoproteins was studied in eight sulfonylurea-treated patients with noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Two diets were consumed by each patient for 2 weeks in random order, one contained (as percent of total calories) 15% protein, 40% fat, and 45% carbohydrate (CHO), whereas the other consisted of 15% protein, 25% fat, and 60% CHO. At the end of each dietary period, patients were given Vitamin A (60,000 U/m2) with their noon meal, and the concentration of triglyceride (TG) and retinyl esters in plasma and two lipoprotein fractions (Sf > 400 and Sf 20-400) determined over the next 12 h. The results indicated that both postprandial TG and retinyl ester concentrations were higher in plasma (Sf > 400, and Sf 20-400 lipoproteins), when patients ate the 25% fat/60% CHO diet. Thus, replacing saturated fat with CHO accentuates the magnitude of postprandial lipemia. Since TG-rich lipoproteins may be atherogenic, appropriate dietary advice for patients with type 2 diabetes may deserve reappraisal.

Effect of acute variations in dietary fat and carbohydrate intake on retinyl ester content of intestinally derived lipoproteins

Vitamin A was administered to eight patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in conjunction with the two different test meals containing (as percentage of total calories) either 15% protein, 60% carbohydrate (CHO), and 25% fat or 15% protein, 40% CHO, and 45% fat. The vitamin A and test meals were given at noon (4 h after a standard breakfast), and blood was obtained hourly from noon to midnight for measurement of plasma glucose, insulin, triglyceride (TG), and cholesterol concentrations; concentrations of TG and cholesterol in Sverdberg floatation (Sf) unit above 400 and Sf 20-400 lipoproteins; retinyl ester concentration in plasma; and both Sf more than 400 and Sf 20-400 lipoproteins. The postprandial TG response in plasma, Sf more than 400 lipoproteins, and Sf 20-400 lipoproteins from noon to midnight was only slightly higher than values seen after consumption of the 60% CHO diet, which contained much less fat (25% vs. 45%) and the retinyl ester concentration was actually higher in both lipoprotein fractions after the diet containing the smallest amount of fat (60% CHO). Furthermore, the cholesterol concentration in the plasma and two lipoprotein fractions was identical after the two diets, despite the great difference in fat content. These data indicate that the acute ingestion of high CHO (60%), low fat (25%) diets by patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus led to little or no decrease in postprandial plasma or lipoprotein TG or cholesterol concentrations and an actual increase in concentration of potentially atherogenic small chylomicron and/or chylomicron remnants.

Effects of dietary carbohydrate and fat intake on glucose and lipoprotein metabolism in individuals with diabetes mellitus

The dietary treatment of individuals with diabetes remains a controversial issue. The major emphasis in recent years has been on the reduction of total fat and saturated fat and replacement with complex carbohydrate. The rationale for this approach is based on the premise that such diets will reduce the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) by reducing total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. In this article, we review the available data and conclude that there is little evidence to support the notion that low-fat high-carbohydrate diets per se lead to any reduction in the risk for CAD in individuals with diabetes. The only data indicating that low-fat high-carbohydrate diets lead to beneficial effects on carbohydrate and lipoprotein metabolism are confounded either by the lack of suitable experimental control, by the fact that diets also differed in the type of dietary fat and amount of dietary cholesterol, or were enormously enriched in dietary fiber. When these factors are taken into consideration, there appears to be little evidence in support of the view that substituting carbohydrate for fat in the diets of individuals with diabetes results in any measurable beneficial effect. Indeed, it could be argued that the most characteristic defects in carbohydrate and lipoprotein metabolism are exacerbated in response to low-fat high-carbohydrate diets. Alternatively, the data presented herein strongly suggest that diets containing conventional quantities of fat, in which saturated fat is replaced by unsaturated fat and dietary cholesterol reduced, would result in the desired reductions to total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations without the adverse effects of increased postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations, increased fasting and postprandial total and very-low-density lipoprotein triglyceride concentrations, and decreased fasting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations.

The clinical utility of the glycemic index and its application to mixed meals

A classification of carbohydrate-containing foods based on their glycemic response to 50-g carbohydrate portions has recently been developed. The relative glycemic potency of many of these carbohydrate-containing foods have been compared, and these data have been published in the form of a glycemic index. It has been suggested that meals containing low glycemic index foods will result in a lower postprandial glucose response than meals with a higher glycemic index. However, whether or not these data will lead to a clinically useful reduction in postprandial hyperglycemia in individuals with carbohydrate intolerance remains controversial. In this review, we will try to delineate why we believe that the glycemic index, as currently developed, may be a specious tissue. In addition, we will briefly discuss a number of factors that may explain the apparent discrepancy in viewpoints on this issue.

Nutritional status of HIV-infected patients during the early disease stages

Nutritional status was monitored in two groups of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for up to 16 months. Twenty-six subjects were recruited from patients enrolled in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome treatment protocols in the early stages of the disease. Body weight, percent body fat, serum albumin, total protein concentration, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and total lymphocyte count were monitored monthly. Four-day food intake records were kept every 4 months. In the 19 patients followed for 16 months (Group 1), a significant (p less than .05) decrease was observed in body weight, percent body fat, body mass index (BMI), and total protein concentration. Seven subjects (Group 2), with more advanced disease than Group 1, demonstrated a significant (p less than .05) decrease in total lymphocyte count over a 5-month period. This latter group fell just below the normal range for hemoglobin and hematocrit concentrations during the study period. With the exception of a decrease in vitamin B-6, zinc, and total energy intake, food records closely matched the Recommended Dietary Allowance for the age group. Thus, we conclude that decreases in body weight, percent body fat, and BMI may be the earliest indication of decreased nutritional status in HIV-infected patients.

Dietary management of nursing home residents with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Eighteen residents with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) from two skilled nursing facilities were monitored for glycemic control on diabetic and regular diets provided by the institution. Weekly fasting plasma glucose and 1-d dietary intake were followed for 16 wk: 4 wk on diabetic diets before and after an 8-wk regular-diet period. All residents were in good glycemic control (fasting plasma glucose 7.0 +/- 0.6 mmol/L) at entry into the study. During the regular-diet period, fasting plasma glucose increased an average of 0.6 mmol/L for all residents. Caloric intake increased during the regular-diet period although body weight did not change significantly. In both study periods nutrient intake of the residents met or exceeded the Recommended Dietary Allowances for the age group. These results indicate that the short-term substitution of regular for diabetic diets did not result in gross deterioration of glycemic control in patients with NIDDM confined to chronic-care facilities.

Persistence of hypertriglyceridemic effect of low-fat high-carbohydrate diets in NIDDM patients

Although low-fat high-carbohydrate diets are recommended for patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in an effort to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), the results of short-term studies have shown that these diets can lead to changes in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism associated with an increased risk of CAD. This study has extended these earlier observations by determining the metabolic effects of such diets over a longer period in these patients. The comparison diets contained either 40 or 60% of the total calories as carbohydrates, with reciprocal changes in fat content from 40 to 20% consumed in random order for 6 wk in a crossover experimental design. The ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fat and the total cholesterol intake were held constant in the two diets. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were significantly (P less than .001) elevated throughout the day when patients consumed the 60% carbohydrate diet, and 24-h urinary glucose excretion more than doubled (0.8 vs. 1.8 mol/24 h). Fasting plasma total and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) triglyceride (TG) concentrations increased by 30% (P less than .001) after 1 wk on the 60% carbohydrate diet, and the magnitude of carbohydrate-induced hypertriglyceridemia persisted unchanged throughout the 6-wk study period. Total plasma cholesterol concentrations were similar after both diets. However, VLDL cholesterol (VLDL-chol) was significantly increased, whereas both low-density lipoprotein (LDL-) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-) chol concentrations were significantly decreased after consumption of the 60% carbohydrate diet. Consequently, neither total-chol-to-HDL-chol nor LDL-chol-to-HDL-chol ratios changed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of sucrose on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in NIDDM patients

Recently, there has been increasing interest toward the liberalization of sucrose in the diets of individuals with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). However, there is evidence from several well-controlled prospective studies demonstrating that the consumption of moderate amounts of sucrose may result in hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. The fact that not all studies demonstrate these deleterious effects does not negate the positive data. The magnitude of the deleterious effects will probably vary with individual patients, baseline status, and amount of sucrose. Because these metabolic abnormalities are most disturbed in diabetes and are associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease, it would seem reasonable to continue to advise patients with NIDDM to limit sucrose consumption, at least until available data would allow us to predict in which individuals and at what level of sucrose consumption these adverse metabolic effects would not be present.

Comparison of plasma glucose and insulin responses to mixed meals of high-, intermediate-, and low-glycemic potential

Although plasma glucose and insulin responses have been shown to vary considerably when either normal subjects or patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) consume different carbohydrate-rich foods, it has been difficult to demonstrate this phenomenon when the same foods have been incorporated into a single mixed meal. To pursue this issue further, plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were determined at hourly intervals from 0800 to 2100 h in NIDDM patients in response to three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) calculated to be of low-, intermediate-, and high-glycemic potency. The total integrated glucose response (mean +/- SE) during the day the low-glycemic meals were ingested was approximately 7% lower (2500 +/- 246 mg.dl-1.h-1) than on the days patients ate either the intermediate- (2701 +/- 280 mg.dl-1.h-1) or high- (2718 +/- 311 mg.dl-1.h-1) glycemic meals. When these data were analyzed by meal, it became apparent that the plasma glucose response to breakfast and dinner were essentially identical after consumption of the meals of either low-, intermediate-, or high-glycemic potency. Thus, the modest attenuation of the day-long glycemic response on the day patients ate the low-glycemic meal was due to a reduction in plasma glucose concentration after lunch. The day-long plasma insulin responses to the meals of different glycemic potency were qualitatively similar.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Weight-control approaches: a review by the California Dietetic Association

Weight reduction is considered a therapeutic success if weight loss is maintained with no expense to overall health. The California Dietetic Association, a professional organization including 5,000 registered dietitians, proposes, on the basis of a review of the current scientific literature, the following criteria for health-safety evaluation of dietary approaches. A weight-reduction diet should (a) satisfy all nutrient needs except energy, (b) meet individual tastes and habits, (c) minimize hunger and fatigue, (d) be readily obtainable and socially acceptable, (e) favor the establishment of a changed eating pattern, and (f) be conducive to improvement of overall health. Characteristics of diet approaches associated with poor outcome include (a) very-low-calorie diets, which promote rapid weight loss, (b) extremes of macronutrient restriction, and (c) reliance on formula diets or special products. The use of diets, surgery, drugs, exercise, and behavior modification is discussed.