Glycemic response and lipemic index of rice, raggi and tapioca as compared to wheat diet in human.

Carbohydrate rich diet, rice, raggi or tapioca given to individuals of both sexes for 15 days did not alter the glycemic response (after oral glucose loading) as compared to an isocaloric wheat basal back ground diet. However, plasma cholesterol profile was reduced significantly by raggi and tapioca. Raggi reduced total serum cholesterol; low density lipoprotein cholesterol by 9% each, triglycerides by 15% and increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol, showing a significant beneficial effect on plasma cholesterol profile. Lipemic index as introduced in the present study was 121, 57 and 55 for rice, tapioca and raggi respectively when base line value of the isocaloric wheat supplemented back ground diet (control) was taken as 100.