Which statement best describes the relationship between glycemic index and glycemic load?

• A. GL is independent of the glycemic index.
• B. GI already accounts for portion size.
• C. GL accounts for portion size and is calculated as GI × carbohydrate grams per serving / 100.
• D. GI and GL measure identical concepts.

Answer: (C)

Glycemic response is shaped by both how quickly carbs raise blood sugar and how much carbohydrate you consume. Glycemic index shows how fast a carbohydrate-containing food raises blood glucose, using a standard fixed amount of carbs for comparison, so it doesn’t reflect portion size. Glycemic load takes that speed into account but weights it by the actual carbohydrate in a serving, giving a more practical measure of a real meal’s impact. It’s calculated as GL = GI × carbohydrate grams per serving / 100. For example, a food with GI of 60 and 20 g of carbs in a serving yields a GL of 12, illustrating how portion size changes the overall effect. The other statements don’t fit because GL depends on GI and portion size, GI alone ignores portion size, and GI and GL are related but not identical concepts.