Glycemic index of selected foodstuffs commonly used in south India.

To assess the true physiological basis of carbohydrate exchange of food, commonly eaten in South India, the "Glycemic Index", defined as the area of the glucose tolerance test, under 3 hr, for each food item, expressed as percentage of the area after taking the same amount of carbohydrate as glucose (75 gms) was studied, in healthy fasting human volunteers. Thirteen articles of food items were fed to groups of 12 to 15 healthy fasting volunteers and their glucose tolerance test values up to 3 hr, were measured. The highest glycemic index values were shown by starchy tubers, Raggi and fleshy fruits, while relatively lower values were obtained for pulses and rice; whole wheat showed the smallest glycemic index.