Italian bread vs. White Bread — Health Impact and Nutrition Comparison

Calories

Compared to white bread, which has 266 kcal per serving, Italian bread has a few more calories (271 kcal) per serving.

Protein

White bread and Italian bread have very similar protein content. White bread contains 8.85 grams of protein, while Italian bread contains 8.8 grams per serving. 

Fats

Italian bread contains no saturated fat, while white bread has 0.698 grams. Regarding monounsaturated fat, Italian bread contains 0.812 grams, 35.6% more than white bread's 0.599 grams. White bread has 1.602 grams of polyunsaturated fat, 15.3% more than Italian bread's 1.39 grams.

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison

Italian bread

2

Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 0 g

Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 0.812 g

Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 1.39 g

White Bread

1

Saturated Fat: Sat. Fat 0.698 g

Monounsaturated Fat: Mono. Fat 0.599 g

Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 1.602 g

Contains less Sat. FatSaturated Fat	-100%
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat	+35.6%

Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat

+15.3%

Vitamins

Both contain the same amount of vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and vitamin B3. Italian bread has slightly more folic acid and vitamin K than white bread. Conversely, white bread contains slightly more B5 (pantothenic acid) and B6.

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.

Italian bread

4

White Bread

3

Contains more Vitamin EVitamin E	+31.8%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2	+20.2%
Contains more Vitamin KVitamin K	+500%
Contains more FolateFolate	+72.1%

Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1	+12.7%
Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5	+41.8%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6	+81.3%

~equal in Vitamin C ~0mg

~equal in Vitamin A ~1IU

~equal in Vitamin D ~0µg

~equal in Vitamin B3 ~4.78mg

~equal in Vitamin B12 ~0µg

~equal in Choline ~14.6mg

Minerals

Compared to Italian bread, white bread has higher calcium, iron, potassium, and manganese levels. Italian bread, on the other hand, has slightly less salt and slightly more magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, and selenium than white bread.

Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.

Italian bread

4

White Bread

5

Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium	+17.4%
Contains more CopperCopper	+89.1%
Contains more ZincZinc	+16.2%
Contains more SeleniumSelenium	+23.6%

Contains more CalciumCalcium	+84.6%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium	+14.5%
Contains more IronIron	+22.8%
Contains less SodiumSodium	-10.9%
Contains more ManganeseManganese	+15.5%

~equal in Phosphorus ~98mg

Glycemic Index

The glycemic index (GI) of Italian bread is 59, categorizing it as medium on the GI scale, while the GI of white bread is 73, classifying it as high on the GI scale.

Acidity

Italian bread has a higher acidity based on the Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL), with a value of 4.1, categorizing it as more acidic. In contrast, white bread has a PRAL value of 2.8, indicating a slightly lower level of acidity.

Cardiovascular Health

A mere 30-gram increase in daily whole grain consumption was associated with a reduced risk of stroke, coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure (HF), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and all-cause mortality. Notably, the link between whole grain intake and CHD appeared to follow a linear pattern, while relationships with CVD and all-cause mortality displayed nonlinear trends. These findings underscore the importance of whole grains as a protective dietary component, particularly concerning heart health and overall longevity.

However, when it comes to refined grains, caution is warranted. The evidence connecting refined grain consumption to health outcomes remains inconclusive, primarily due to the low quality of available data. While no clear harm was identified, refined grains did not demonstrate substantial health benefits. Because Italian bread is made from mixed or whole grains, it is better for health than white bread, made from refined grains (3, 4).    

Diabetes

When making bread choices with an eye on blood sugar management and diabetes risk, it's essential to consider the grain composition of the bread. 

Opting for Italian bread that incorporates whole grains can be a prudent choice, as it is more likely to offer the advantages associated with whole grains, such as slower blood sugar spikes and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, compared to traditional white bread made from refined grains (5, 6).  

The reason behind this lies in its relatively low fiber content; without an ample supply of dietary fiber to slow down digestion and the release of glucose into the bloodstream, refined grains like those found in white bread can lead to abrupt and pronounced increases in blood sugar (7, 8). 

Cancer

When considering the choice between Italian and white bread, it's essential to consider their grain composition. Italian bread made with whole grains, such as whole wheat or multigrain flour, may lower the risk of colorectal cancer and positively impact other health markers.

Conversely, traditional white bread, made from refined grains, lacks the fiber and nutritional content that make whole grains so beneficial. Therefore, when choosing between Italian and white bread, mainly focusing on colorectal cancer prevention and overall health, opt for Italian bread with whole-grain ingredients (9).  

Celiac disease 

Much like traditional white bread, Italian bread is typically made from wheat flour containing gluten. For individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, consuming products containing gluten, including many types of Italian bread, can induce inflammation and gastrointestinal discomfort. Therefore, unless specifically labeled as gluten-free and made from alternative flour, Italian bread is generally not recommended for those with gluten-related disorders (10).