Introduction:
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 F2?; 8-iso-PGF2? 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 (? = 0.311, r2 = 0.13, P-value = 0.034) and triglycerides/HDL cholesterol ratio (? = 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 (? = 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 indivi- duals.