Effects of low glycaemic index/low glycaemic load vs. high glycaemic index/ high glycaemic load diets on overweight/obesity and associated risk factors in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Table 2 Pooled estimates of effect size for the results of low glycaemic index/low glycaemic load compared to high glycaemic index/high glycaemic load

Outcome parameter (I²)	Mean difference	95 % confidence interval	p-Value	No. of studies	Sample size	I² (%)
Body mass index, kg/m²	−0.54	(−1.19, 0.12)	0.11	7	836	13
Body mass index, kg/m²¹	−1.00	(−2.31, .0.31)	0.13	5	119	24
Body mass index z-score	−0.09	(−0.19, 0.01)	0.08	4	777	0
Body mass index z-score ¹	−0.11	(−0.23, 0.02)	0.10	2	40	0
Weight, kg	−0.10	(−1.86, 1.67)	0.92	5	794	9
Weight, kg ¹	−0.37	(−2.82, 2.08)	0.77	3	103	0
Waist circumference, cm	−1.23	(−3.23, 0.77)	0.23	5	794	0
Waist circumference, cm ¹	−1.40	(−5.46, 2.66)	0.50	3	103	0
Hip circumference, cm	−1.07	(−3.25, 1.12)	0.34	3	664	0
Hip circumference, cm ¹	−8.00	(−23.5, 7.50)	0.31	1	16	NA
Wast-to-hip ratio	0.00	(−0.02, 0.01)	0.53	3	664	13
Wast-to-hip ratio ¹	0.00	(−0.05, 0.05)	1.00	1	16	NA
Body fat, kg	−0.43	(−2.01, 1.14)	0.59	4	777	40
Body fat, kg ¹	0.44	(−1.52, 2.40)	0.66	2	87	28
Fat mass, kg	−1.04	(−2.50, 0.43)	0.17	4	689	26
Fat mass, kg ¹	−1.87	(−3.96, 0.22)	0.08	2	42	64
Fat-free mass, kg	0.81	(−1.10, 2.72)	0.40	2	647	71
Diastolic blood pressure, mm Hg	0.65	(−2.11, 3.41)	0.64	4	213	39
Systolic blood pressure, mm Hg	1.63	(−1.52, 4.78)	0.31	4	213	0
LDL-cholesterol, mg/dl	−1.61	(−8.09, 4.87)	0.63	4	237	0
HDL-cholesterol, mg/dl	0.27	(−2.13, 2.66)	0.83	5	263	0
Triglycerides, mg/dl	−15.14	(−26.26, −4.00)	0.008	5	263	0
Total cholesterol, mg/dl	−3.72	(−11.71, 4.27)	0.36	4	246	0
C-reactive protein, mg/l	0.58	(−0.25, 1.41)	0.17	1	26	NA
HOMA index	−0.70	(−1.37, −0.04)	0.04	4	172	30
Fasting serum insulin, μU/ml	2.67	(−6.32, 0.9)	0.15	3	109	0
Fasting serum glucose, mg/dl	−0.13	(−2.25, 1.98)	0.90	4	213	0

I² = inconsistency (heterogeneity); NA = not applicable
1 For anthropometrical parameters, sensitivity analyses were performed including only trials investigating the effects of glycaemic index/load on children and adolescents being either overweight and/or obese (no such data were available for fat-free mass)

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