Mediterranean Style Diet and Low Glycemic Responses

The overall aim of this study is to evaluate whether a Mediterranean diet rich in pasta and other starchy foods with a low glycemic response (Low-GI), as compared with a similar Mediterranean diet containing very little pasta and based on starchy foods with a high glycemic response (Hi-GI) is able to reduce insulin and glucose concentrations during a prolonged test study meal.

Inclusion criteria

• • BMI 25-37 kg/m2 with a waist circumference > 102 cm (males) or > 88 cm (females) and one additional feature of Metabolic Syndrome according to ATPIII [1], including blood pressure > 130/85 or treatment, fasting plasma glucose >100mg/dL, fasting triglycerides >150 mg/dL, HDL cholesterol < 40 mg/dL (males) or 50 mg/dL (females),

• weight stable (± 3 kg in previous 3 mo);
• no acute illness; and non-diabetic.

Exclusion criteria

• age <30 and >69years;
• fasting triglycerides ≥400 mg/dL;
• fasting cholesterol >240 mg/dL or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol>160 mg/dL
• fasting glucose >126 mg/dL,
• systolic blood pressure >160 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure >100 mmHg
• a BMI >37 kg/m2, weight changes during the previous 3 months (greater than ± 3 kg),
• stable intensive physical activity regimen during the previous 3 months (>3 h/wk of moderate or high intensity exercise, resistance or aerobic training).
• cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction or stroke) during the 6 months prior to the study;
• renal and liver failure (creatinine >1.7 mg/dl and ALT/AST >2 times than normal values, respectively);
• anaemia (Hb <12 g/dL);
• diabetes mellitus.
• If you are pregnant