Research
Hormonal
High glycemic load diets are associated with an increased risk of colorectal and breast cancer, potentially through mechanisms involving hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs).
While the evidence is still emerging, choosing low-glycemic index foods may help reduce the risk of colorectal and breast cancer. These foods may help regulate insulin and insulin-like growth factors, which are implicated in cancer development. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings.
LimitedQualifiesLOW confidence
Evidence that glycemic carbohydrates influence risk of cancer is still limited. To date, only two epidemiologic studies have specifically sought and found a direct relationship between GI and colorectal and breast cancer.
Why this rating
Based on limited epidemiologic studies and mechanistic hypotheses, with conflicting animal study results.
Source
Glycemic Load and Chronic Disease
Janette C. Brand-Miller · Nutrition Reviews · 2003
DOI 10.1301/nr.2003.may.s49-s55
narrative_reviewCited 245×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Diets with a high glycemic load (high-GI carbohydrates) are independently associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, whereas low-GI diets improve glycemic and lipid control.Good
- Low-glycemic index diets promote weight loss and reduce body fat compared to high-glycemic index diets, primarily by enhancing satiety, minimizing postprandial insulin secretion, and increasing fat oxidation.Moderate
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