The association between glycemic index, glycemic load and total carbohydrate intake and risk of premature coronary artery disease: Iran Premature Coronary Artery Disease Study (IPAD)- A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Background and aims: The association between glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL), total carbohydrate intake, and risk of cardiovascular diseases has been controversial. Premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) is characterized by the age of onset lower than 55 and 65 respectively in men and women. The aim of the current study is to investigate the relationship between GI, GL and carbohydrate levels and the risk of PCAD in Iran. Methods and results: In total, 419 healthy people and 553 patients struggling with PCAD have participated in this case -control study. Dietary GI and GL were calculated using a validated food frequency questionnaire at the baseline. Crude and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess the relationship between GI, GL, and total carbohydrate intake and risk of PCAD. The mean age of participants was 51.13 +/- 6.90 and 46 of them were women. A signi ficant direct relationship was observed between higher carbohydrate intake (OR: 1.74, 95CI: 1.27-2.38) and GL levels (OR: 1.56, 95 CI:1.14-2.14) and risk of PCAD. These associations were not signi ficant after adjusting for potential variables. No signi ficant association has been observed between GI and odds of PCAD even after controlling for all covariates. Conclusion: We found no signi ficant association between GI, GL, and total carbohydrate intake and risk of premature coronary heart disease. Further observational and clinical trials are required to assess this relationship. (c) 2023 The Italian Diabetes Society, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.