Dietary carbohydrate intake and dyslipidemia in Korean adults

Abstract

The aim of our study was to evaluate the associations of total carbohydrate intake and glycemic index (GI) and load (GL) with lipid profiles in a prospective study of Korean adults. We included a total of 4,327 participants aged 40-69 years followed for 4 years since 2001 and provided blood specimens at a follow-up. Carbohydrate intake, GI, and GL were calculated from the relevant food items on a validated food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high triglyceride (TG) were analyzed using the logistic regression models. Replacing protein or fat intake (g/d) with total carbohydrate intake (g/d) was associated with lower HDL-C levels, and higher levels of LDL-C and TG; multivariate ORs (95% CIs) comparing top quartile with bottom quartile were 1.26 (0.99-1.60; p-trend = 0.03) for low HDL-C, 1.31 (1.05-1.64; p-trend = 0.03) for high TG, and 1.33 (1.10-1.61; p-trend = 0.01) for high LDL-C. Replacing percentage energy from fat or protein with percentage energy from carbohydrate was associated with lower HDL-C levels, and higher levels of LDL-C and TG; multivariate ORs (95% CIs) comparing top quartile with bottom quartile were 1.40 (1.08-1.79; p-trend = 0.006) for low HDL-C, 1.33 (1.05-1.68; p-trend = 0.03) for high TG, and 1.40 (1.15-1.71; p-trend = 0.004) for high LDL-C. However, there was no association for either GI or GL. In summary, we found that high total carbohydrate intake was associated with unfavorable lipid profile in Korean adults. However, our study does not support the hypothesis that low levels of GI or GL are associated with improved lipid profile.