Low GI diets – what are they and why are they good for people with Mitochondrial
Disease?
Prepared by Monique Covey
Senior Clinical Dietitian
August 2014

Outline
 General Nutrition
 Diabetes
 Carbohydrates
 Glycaemic Index
 Carbohydrate – amount and spread
 Low Carbohydrate diets

Nutrition for life
 Adequate nutrition essential in managing mitochondrial disease.
 Key nutrients
– Carbohydrate
– Fat
– Protein
– Vitamins and Minerals
 Mitochondria use glucose from CHO to form ATP (energy)
 Low GI diet used to manage IGT and diabetes in mitochondrial disease

Glucose
Insulin
Blood stream
Body cell

What is Diabetes?
Insulin
Glucose

What are carbohydrate foods?
 Cereals and grains
– Rice
 Flour-based staples
– Bread
– Pasta
 Starchy veggies
– Potato & sweet potato
– Corn

What are carbohydrate foods?
• Milk
• Yoghurt
• Custard
(not cream or cheese)
• Lentils and legumes eg. beans, chickpeas, split peas
• Fruit
• Fruit Juice
• Dried Fruit

What are carbohydrate foods?
 “Sometimes” foods
– Sugar
– Cake & biscuits
– Ice cream
– Soft drinks
– Sweets & chocolate
– Chips

 They all end up as glucose molecules and are absorbed into the bloodstream
 The difference is the forms in which they’re eaten and the at which they break down to glucose in the gut (GI) rate
CHO glucose

Glycaemic Index (GI)
 A ranking of foods based on their effect on blood sugar levels
 Reflects both the structure and composition of foods
 Low GI ≤55
 Intermediate 56-69
 High ≥70

Glycaemic Index (GI)
 “Fast acting” carbs – cause a sharp rise in BSL
=HIGH GI
 “Slow acting” carbs – gentle rise in BSL (slow release of glucose into blood) =LOW GI
HIGH GI =
Digested fast
LOW GI =
Digested slowly

Low GI Foods (≤ 55)

Moderate GI Foods (56-69)

High GI Foods (≥ 70)

Useful Websites
 http://www.gisymbol.com/
 http://www.glycemicindex.com/

How much Carbohydrate?
Aim for an even spread through the day
8 am
12 noon
10 am
3 pm
6 pm
9 pm
Breakfast Lunch Dinner

How much Carbohydrate?
 3 small meals & 3 snacks
 Aim for:
– Breakfast
– Morning tea
– Lunch
– Afternoon tea
– Dinner
– Supper
2- 3 serves
1-2 serves
2-3 serves
1-2 serves
2-3 serves
1-2 serves
 Avoid fasting

– 3 teaspoons sugar
– 1 slice bread
– ¼ large Lebanese bread
– 1/3 cup cooked rice
– 1 glass milk
– 2 (small) scoops ice cream
– 1 medium piece fruit

Low CHO diets and mitochondrial disease
 Minimal evidence
 Based on Ketogenic diet for patients with refractory seizures that don’t respond to medication.
 Last resort
 Very restrictive
 Needs close medical and dietetic supervision.

Summary: Points to remember
 Adequate nutrition is vital in the management of mitochondrial disease
 Aim for 3 meals and 3 snacks per day – avoid fasting
 Include low GI CHO at every meal
 Low GI diets are not suitable for everyone with mitochondrial disease
 Seek further advice from your local dietitian