Metabolic Effects of a Caloric Restriction High/Low Glycemic Index Diet Plus Metformin in Overweight/Obese Subjects

All groups (Low/High-GI and Low-GI + Metformin) showed significant reduction in anthropometric parameters, but only Low-GI and Low-GI + Metformin groups have an improvement in body composition parameters. In addition, the Low-GI group achieved better results in metabolism of carbohydrates (glucose, insulin, Cederholm Index, and HOMA-β) and lipids (Chol, TAG, LDL-C, VLDL-C, and TC/HDL-c). These results show the benefits of Low-GI diet on metabolic parameters in overweight or obese type 1 subjects.

Inclusion criteria

• Participants were adults (18-50 y), with body mass index (BMI) between 25-35 kg/m².
• Subjects with adequate glycemic and insulinemic response after oral glucose tolerance test: Hypocaloric diet with predominating high glycemic index foods;
• Subjects with altered glycemic response presented at the 120 min point either glycemia <140mg/dL and insulin level >40 µUI/ml: Hypocaloric diet with predominant low glycemic index foods;
• Subjects with impaired glucose tolerance presented at the 120 min point glycemia 140 - 199mg/dL and insulin >40 µUI/ml: Hypocaloric diet with predominant low glycemic index foods and metformin.

Exclusion criteria

• Smokers
• Pregnant or lactating
• Diagnosis of any metabolic diseases
• Were under medication and therapeutic diet, except oral contraceptive for women.