Metabolic Impact of the Amount and Type of Dietary Carbohydrates on the Risk of Obesity and Diabetes

The relationship between dietary carbohydrates and the current obesity and diabetes epidemic is the subject of intense renewed interest. Since glucose is an essential source of energy, with limited body stores, maintenance of blood levels and changes in its metabolism are strongly determined by the intake of carbohydrates in the diet. Depending on the individual genetic susceptibility and the impact of other risk factors, these metabolic changes can potentially deteriorate into manifest abnormalities with an important disease risk.