A new company offering food and drink manufacturers glycaemic index (GI) testing for diet and weight control products has been set up by researchers at Hammersmith Hospital in London.

Hammersmith Food Research is a NHS company that will build on the hospital's work in nutrition and dietetics, including GI testing, carried out over the past decade.

Dr Gary Frost, head of nutrition and dietetics at Hammersmith Hospital's NHS Trust, and a director of Hammersmith Food Research, said the company had been established to cater for the growing number of manufacturers moving into the low-GI market. "Research shows that a low-GI diet is beneficial for health and there is much greater interest from industry," he said.

The GI measures how fast a product's carbohydrates are absorbed by the body and how quickly blood sugar levels are affected. Carbohydrates that break down rapidly during digestion have the highest GIs, while those that break down slowly have the lowest. Low-GI diets improve diabetes control and can help people lose weight. High-GI foods help the body re-fuel, especially after strenuous exercise.

The majority of companies offering GI testing are based in Australia and Canada where there is strong demand for GI products. The market is still in its infancy here, but is predicted to grow.

Hammersmith Food Research conducts tests on groups of 10 volunteers and can produce results in about two weeks. Profits are used by the hospital to fund research.