Diet and Cancer Risk: Glycaemic Index and Load
Author Information
Author(s): Mulholland H G, Murray L J, Cardwell C R, Cantwell M M
Primary Institution: Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research Group, Centre for Clinical and Population Sciences, Queens University Belfast
Hypothesis
Is there an association between dietary glycaemic index (GI), glycaemic load (GL), and the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer?
Conclusion
A high glycaemic load diet is associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer, especially in obese women, while dietary glycaemic index does not appear to be related to endometrial cancer risk.
Supporting Evidence
- Five studies were identified that examined the relationship between glycaemic load and endometrial cancer risk.
- The pooled effect estimates showed an increased risk for high glycaemic load consumers.
- Obese women showed a further elevated risk associated with high glycaemic load diets.
- No significant associations were observed for glycaemic index.
- Only two studies examined ovarian cancer, indicating positive associations for glycaemic load.
Takeaway
Eating a lot of foods that raise your blood sugar quickly can increase the risk of certain cancers, especially for heavier women.
Methodology
A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the relationship between dietary GI, GL, and cancer risk, focusing on endometrial and ovarian cancer.
Potential Biases
Potential recall bias in case-control studies and dietary measurement errors in self-reported data.
Limitations
The review is based on a limited number of studies, and there may be inconsistencies in dietary assessment methods and confounder adjustments.
Participant Demographics
Studies primarily included women from Europe and North America, with varying BMI categories.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.03
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.06–1.37
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website