The study, published in the recent issue of "The Lancet", also identifies that unlike the popular Atkins diet, which seeks to minimize carbohydrate intake, the low-GI diet makes distinctions among carbohydrates.

"The Atkins diet tries to get rid of all carbohydrates, which we think is excessively restrictive. You don't have to go to this extreme if you pay attention to the glycemic index and choose low-GI carbs," said Ludwig.

During the course of study, researchers fed rats with tightly controlled diets that have identical nutrients, except for the type of starch. Both diets were 69 percent carbohydrates, but 11 rats were randomly assigned to a high-GI starch and 10 to a low-GI starch.

They found that the high-GI group had 71 percent more body fat and 8 percent less lean body mass than the low-GI group, despite very similar body weights. The high-GI group also had significantly greater increases in blood glucose and far more abnormalities in the pancreatic islet cells that make insulin, all changes that occur in diabetes.

Besides these, the high-GI group also had blood triglyceride levels nearly three times that of the low-GI group, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

"What the study shows is that glycemic index is an independent factor that can have dramatic effects on the major chronic diseases plaguing developed nations - obesity, diabetes, and heart disease," said senior author Dr. David Ludwig.

Source: Diabetes In Control.com: The Lancet Sept, 2004.