INTRANET

Chronic refined carbohydrate consumption measured by glycemic load and variation in cognitive performance in healthy people

Since the second half of the 20th century, the Western world has seen a massive change in diet, with a dramatic increase in the consumption of refined carbohydrates, which has had many deleterious effects on health. Physiological mechanisms associated with refined carbohydrate consumption, such as hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, may impact cognition in healthy individuals prior to overt obesity, the onset of metabolic disease, or dementia. To explore this possibility, the relationship between cognitive performance and chronic consumption of refined carbohydrates was studied in healthy young adults (N = 95). The assessment of chronic refined carbohydrate consumption was based on glycemic load (an indicator of glycemic and insulinemic responses) of three high-glycemic risk meals: breakfast, afternoon snacking, and snacking between meals. Immediate consumption of refined carbohydrates has been
experimentally controlled. Chronic high glycemic load between meals is associated with decreased cognitive performance in both men and women in the presence of high glycemic load between meals. We discuss the different physiological ecologies of the three meals and the interpretation of the results in terms of adaptation or maladaptation to the modern diet.









		
		
		
		
            

        

		        

            

				            

        

		

	
            

                

                    
Related Posts