Meta-Analysis of Low-Glycemic Index Diets in the Management of Diabetes

Response to Brand-Miller et al. and Mann

Mann (1) and Brand-Miller et al. (2) state in this issue of Diabetes Care that study subjects have been on previous nutrition therapies before the implementation of low–versus high–glycemic index diets. Although this may be the case, in reviewing the studies included in the meta-analysis, only two studies state this clearly. The first is the study by Fontvieille et al. (3), in which the low–compared with high–glycemic index diet did not improve HbA_1c levels over 5 weeks but did result in a decrease in fructosamine (P < 0.05). The second is the study by Heilbronn et al. (4), wherein subjects participated in 12 weeks of energy restriction. After 4 weeks on a weight loss diet similar in composition to the average Australian diet, the subjects were randomized to a low–versus high–glycemic index diet for 8 weeks. At …