Dietary glycemic index and glycemic load among Indigenous and non-Indigenous children aged 10-12 years

Objective: This study aimed to estimate the dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous rural children and identify the main foods contributing to their GI and GL. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of food intake of 215 children (38.1% were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders) 10 to 12 y old obtained by three 24-h recalls was conducted. The foods were ranked according to their total contribution to total carbohydrates, GI, and GL. Results: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants had a significantly higher dietary GL (155.8 ± 46.8 versus 135.4 ± 31.2, P < 0.001) and GI (58.3 ± 3.9 versus 56.9 ± 3.8, P = 0.008) than the non-Indigenous participants. White breads were the main contributors of GI and GL in both groups and were a main driver for the increasing GI. Fiber was not associated with GI, whereas sugar and starch were positively associated. Subjects with a higher GI tended to be less physically active. Conclusion: The quality of carbohydrates in the diets of the participants was low, with poorer dietary items contributing most of the GI and GL. Substituting white breads with low/lower GI alternatives may be a useful strategy.