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Glycemic Load (GL)

Product of a food's glycemic index and the grams of available carbohydrate per serving, divided by 100, expressing the glycemic impact of typical portions.

Also: GL

GL distinguishes foods like watermelon (high GI, low GL because of low carbohydrate density) from refined grains (moderate-to-high GI with high carbohydrate density). Higher dietary GL is associated with type 2 diabetes incidence, coronary heart disease, and certain cancers in large cohorts, though effect sizes are modest after accounting for fiber and whole-food intake.

How each textbook covers it

  • Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism, 8th ed. (Gropper) — Glossary

    Combines a food's glycemic index with the actual portion's carbohydrate content to estimate its real-world impact on blood glucose.

  • Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 12th ed. — Ch 3: Carbohydrates

    GL distinguishes foods like watermelon (high GI, low GL because of low carbohydrate density) from refined grains (moderate-to-high GI with high carbohydrate density). Higher dietary GL is associated with type 2 diabetes incidence, coronary heart disease, and certain cancers in large cohorts, though effect sizes are modest after accounting for fiber and whole-food intake.

Related terms

Carbohydrate, Glycemic index, Type 2 diabetes