Plasma glucose and insulin responses to traditional Pima Indian meals

Janette C. Brand, B. Janelle Snow, Gary P. Nabhan, A. Stewart Truswell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

92 Scopus citations

Abstract

The in vivo glycemic and insulin responses and in vitro starch digestibility were determined for six staple foods (corn, lima beans, white and yellow teparies, mesquite, and acorns) traditionally consumed by Pima Indians. Equivalent carbohydrate portions (25 g) of the foods were fed to eight healthy Caucasian volunteers. The calculated glycemic indices (GIs) (x̄ ± SEM with glucose as the standard) were all low, ranging from 16 ± 2 for acorns to 40 ± 5 for corn. Insulin responses and in vitro starch digestibilities correlated with the GI. These results provide further support for the hypothesis that the slow digestion and absorption of starch in traditional foods was a factor that helped protect susceptible populations from developing diabetes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)416-420
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume51
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1990

Keywords

  • Carbohydrate
  • Glycemic index
  • Pima Indian
  • Traditional foods

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

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