Abstract

PIP: The effect of the kind, rather than the amount, of carbohydrate in the diet of young women using oral contraceptives (OCs) was determined by studying serum glucose, insulin, and glucagon alterations after a loading dose of sucrose in women receiving their carbohydrate from primarily sucrose or from primarily wheat starch; these results were compared with those from a group of matched women never using OCs. 12 women (aged 19-25 years) were studied; half had used OCs and half had not. The 2 experimental diets were fed 4 weeks each in a crossover design with 4 weeks between the 2 test diets. Subjects were fed a sucrose load before and after Week 1 and 3 of each dietary period. Blood was drawn before and 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes after each meal for measuring the various parameters. Overall, levels of serum glucagon and responses of serum glucose and insulin to sucrose load were significantly higher (P. 05-.005) in OC users than in controls. Glucose and insulin rose significantly after the sucrose load. Time also significantly affected glucose and insulin levels. The OC-time interaction was significant for glucose and insulin levels too. The OC users generally had higher peak levels of glucose and insulin and took longer to return to fasting levels than did the controls. By 3 weeks of the diet, the glucose and insulin responses of the OC users, vs. the controls, were significantly greater on the sucrose than on the starch diet. The response of the insulin/glucagon ratio to the sucrose load was not significantly affected by OC use.