Butter Glycemic Index (GI) - Is It High or Low?

by Victoria Mazmanyan | Last updated on August 20, 2024

Medically reviewed by Ani Harutyunyan

Butter is made by separating the fat and protein content of milk. Because of this, butter is particularly low in carbohydrates, containing less than 0.01g of it. Consuming enough butter to calculate its glycemic index makes it exceedingly challenging.

The glycemic index of butter is most likely very low, close to 0.

According to the International Tables of Glycemic Index Values, the glycemic index of white bread with butter equals 59 (1).

Consumption of fat, such as butter, with a high glycemic index food, such as bread, has been studied to lower the glycemic response of the meal (2).

Another study has shown that butter intake reduces the GI of bread from 88 to 67 (3).

Overall, butter has a very low glycemic index and might even reduce the glycemic response of a meal.

However, it is essential to note that butter is rich in saturated fatty acids. A diet high in saturated fats has been associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (4).

You can check the GI values of other foods on our glycemic index chart page.