Low Glycemic Index Diets on Long‐term Blood Pressure Control: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis

OBJECTIVES We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to assess effectiveness of low GI diets on blood pressure (BP) in the long‐term. METHODS We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Register of Clinical Trials for clinical trials, 3 months or longer. Cochrane guidelines and the PRISMA methodologies were used. Results were pooled in Review Manager under generic inverse variance methods with random effects models and expressed as Mean Difference (MD) with 95% CI. RESULTS 1290 reports were identified with 9 trials meeting eligibility criteria (7 parallel, 2 crossovers). 7 trials reported Systolic BP (SBP) (n=666, average duration= 27.7 weeks) while 6 had Diastolic BP (DBP) data (n=563, average duration= 23.2 weeks). The pooled effect of low GI diets was −0.17mmHg (95%CI: −1.07,0.74) for SBP and −2.26mmHg (95%CI: −4.17, − 0.35) for DBP, with significant heterogeneity for both (I2>;86%, P<0.00001). CONCLUSION Low GI diets can lower DBP in T2D in the long‐term. Study Supported by Barilla