Mediterranean Style Diet and Low Glycemic Responses

The overall aim of this study is to evaluate whether a Mediterranean diet rich in pasta and
other starchy foods with a low glycemic response (Low-GI), as compared with a similar
Mediterranean diet containing very little pasta and based on starchy foods with a high
glycemic response (Hi-GI) is able to reduce insulin and glucose concentrations during a
prolonged test study meal.

Inclusion Criteria:

- • BMI 25-37 kg/m2 with a waist circumference > 102 cm (males) or > 88 cm (females) and
one additional feature of Metabolic Syndrome according to ATPIII [1], including blood
pressure > 130/85 or treatment, fasting plasma glucose >100mg/dL, fasting
triglycerides >150 mg/dL, HDL cholesterol < 40 mg/dL (males) or 50 mg/dL (females),

- weight stable (± 3 kg in previous 3 mo);

- no acute illness; and non-diabetic.

Exclusion Criteria:

- age <30 and >69years;

- fasting triglycerides ≥400 mg/dL;

- fasting cholesterol >240 mg/dL or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol>160 mg/dL

- fasting glucose >126 mg/dL,

- systolic blood pressure >160 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure >100 mmHg

- a BMI >37 kg/m2, weight changes during the previous 3 months (greater than ± 3 kg),

- stable intensive physical activity regimen during the previous 3 months (>3 h/wk of
moderate or high intensity exercise, resistance or aerobic training).

- cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction or stroke) during the 6 months prior to
the study;

- renal and liver failure (creatinine >1.7 mg/dl and ALT/AST >2 times than normal
values, respectively);

- anaemia (Hb <12 g/dL);

- diabetes mellitus.

- If you are pregnant