A nutritional evaluation of various typical Italian breakfast products: a comparison of macronutrient composition and glycaemic index values

Abstract

Breakfast foods with lower glycaemic responses are associated with better body weight control. Glycaemic index (GI) values of some commonly consumed breakfast foods in Italy were determined and compared, along with macronutrients. Cakes/pastries were low-medium GI (44–60), with high-sugar and saturated fat and low-fibre. Generally, mueslis and breads were medium GI (62–66 and 59–76, respectively) with higher fibre and lower saturated fat and sugar. The addition of spreads to bread lowered GI (47–66) but increased sugar and saturated fat.

Keywords:

• Breakfast
• nutrition
• glycaemic index
• Italian

Acknowledgements

We gratefully thank all volunteers involving in glycaemic index measurements. We would also like to acknowledge Barilla G. e R. Fratelli S.p.A. (Parma, Italy) and Soremartec Italia S.r.l. (Alba, CN, Italy) for the provision of some food products.

Disclosure statement

We declare no conflict of interest.