Recent nutrient intake and fasting plasma glucose in healthy North-American adults

In order to examine the relationship of recent diet to fasting plasma glucose we compared dietary variables with fasting plasma glucose levels in 1204 non-diabetic men and women aged 20-79 years who were residents in a defined community. Total caloric and macronutrient intake (carbohydrate, protein, fat, and alcohol) were determined quantitatively by a history taken by a dietitian. This was determined for the 24 h preceding a 12 h fast. Fasting plasma glucose levels correlated significantly with age and body mass index in both men and women, but showed no clinically significant association with dietary variables by continuous analysis. These data suggest that carbohydrate loading is not needed for valid fasting plasma glucose measurement, in contrast to some recommendations that had been made for performance of the oral glucose tolerance test.