Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, 150 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E2, Canada.
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital, 61 Queen Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2T2, Canada.
Nutrients. 2011 Mar;3(3):330-340. doi: 10.3390/nu3030330. Epub 2011 Feb 28.
The term glycaemic-index (GI) originally appeared in the literature in the early 1980s. GI categorizes carbohydrate according to glycaemic effect postprandially. Since its inception, GI has obtained and maintained interest of academics and clinicians globally. Upon review of GI literature, it becomes clear that the clinical utility of GI is a source of controversy. Can and should GI be applied clinically? There are academics and clinicians on both sides of the argument. Certainly, this controversy has been a stimulus for the evolution of GI methodology and application research, but may also negatively impact clinicians' perception of GI if misunderstood. This article reviews two assessments of GI that are often listed as barriers to application; the GI concept is (1) too complex and (2) too difficult for clients to apply. The literature reviewed does not support the majority of purported barriers, but does indicate that there is a call from clinicians for more and improved GI education tools and clinician GI education. The literature indicates that the Registered Dietitian (RD) can play a key role in GI knowledge translation; from research to application. Research is warranted to assess GI education tool and knowledge needs of clinicians and the clients they serve.
血糖生成指数（GI）一词最早出现在 20 世纪 80 年代初的文献中。GI 根据餐后血糖效应对碳水化合物进行分类。自诞生以来，GI 一直受到全球学者和临床医生的关注。通过对 GI 文献的回顾，可以清楚地看出 GI 的临床应用存在争议。GI 能否以及应该在临床上应用？学者和临床医生对此意见不一。当然，这种争议刺激了 GI 方法学和应用研究的发展，但如果被误解，也可能会对临床医生对 GI 的看法产生负面影响。本文回顾了两项经常被列为 GI 应用障碍的评估；GI 概念（1）过于复杂，（2）客户难以应用。文献回顾不支持大多数所谓的障碍，但确实表明临床医生呼吁提供更多和改进的 GI 教育工具和临床医生 GI 教育。文献表明，注册营养师（RD）可以在 GI 知识转化方面发挥关键作用；从研究到应用。有必要评估临床医生及其服务对象的 GI 教育工具和知识需求。
