A new company offering glycaemic index (GI) testing in
human volunteers has emerged from NHS nutrition and dietetic research at Hammersmith Hospital in London.

Hammersmith Food Research will offer companies throughout the food industry GI testing and advice as the interest in this subject increases

"The link between low GI diets and reduced risk of diseases such as diabetes and heart disease is strengthening," comments Dr Gary Frost, head of nutrition and dietetics at Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust and a director of the new company.

"This may be responsible for an increasing interest in GI from the food industry. Hammersmith Food Research can put into practice over 10 years of research, making that expertise available and accessible. We also offer the backing an important research hospital confers in terms of infrastructure and access to human volunteers."

Foods with a lower GI cause smaller peaks in blood
sugar levels over time. It is this that is believed to offer better protection against diabetes and other diseases compared with higher GI diets.