Mukherjee, Sutapa and Thakur, Goutam and Kumar, Balasubramaniam Dinesh and Mitra, Analava and Chakraborty, Chandan (2009) Long-term effects of a Carbohydrate-rich diet on Fasting Blood sugar, Lipid profile, and Serum insulin values in Rural Bengalis. Journal of Diabetes, 1 (4). pp. 288-295. ISSN 1753-0407

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Abstract

Background: The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is increasing in rural areas of India, where there is also often a lack of health infrastructure. Thus, a proper dietary study with the view of combating diabetes is essential. The aim of the present study was to determine the long-term effect of a carbohydrate-rich diet in rural Bengal. Methods: Volunteers (n = 320) were selected from three villages in Kharagpur and were randomly divided into a control and experimental group (n = 160 in each). The design of the study was such that non-significant differences in any of the dependent variables were maintainted prior to the application of control or treatment modes. In the control group, volunteers consumed <70% carbohydrate as part of their diet, whereas in the experimental group carbohydrate consumption was >70%. Blood samples from both groups were collected on yearly basis for 5 years and fasting blood sugar (FBS), lipid profile and serum insulin values were analyzed. Results: The blood biochemistry profiles were monitored before the start and at the end of the study. The results indicate that increased intake of carbohydrate causes significant increases in FBS (P < 0.05) and serum insulin (P < 0.05), as well as changes in the lipid profile, particularly triglycerides (P < 0.05) and very low-density lipoprotein–cholesterol (VLDL-C; P < 0.05). Conclusions: The effects of increased carbohydrate on FBS, serum insulin, triglycerides and VLDL-C indicate that a proper nutritional policy needs to be implemented for this population of rural, low-income Bengalis.

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