Migration often brings significant changes, not only in living environment, but also in health. Researchers from Amsterdam UMC, in collaboration with the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST), have shown that the composition of gut bacteria changes when people move from rural to urban areas in Ghana. Similar changes occur in people who migrate from Ghana to Amsterdam. These changes are associated with an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases.
Previous research and reports from the World Health Organization have shown that migrants often experience poorer health than a country's native population. Research by Amsterdam UMC shows that this is also the case in the Netherlands. Charles Agyemang, APH researcher and professor of Global Migration, Ethnicity & Health at Amsterdam UMC, says, “We found that nutrients such as protein, fat and salt are related to the composition of gut flora. These nutrients were more frequently present in the diet of migrants.” In other words, the migrants studied consumed more protein, fattier and saltier foods. This may play a role in changes in the bacteria in their gut. “We saw that as the gut flora changed, the risk of cardiometabolic diseases also increased. Participants who no longer had certain groups of bacteria in their gut after their migration, or had new types of bacteria in their gut, had more risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and impaired kidney function.” This study shows how important it is to look at nutrition to understand the health risks that are common in migration.”
Identical nutritional questionnaires
Barbara Verhaar, physician-researcher at Amsterdam UMC, explains, “Migration has long been thought to affect people's gut flora. However, previous studies often had limitations, such as a small number of participants, failure to account for dietary differences, or a focus only on first- and second-generation migrants. For our study, we used our own participant group to clearly demonstrate this change.”
Over 1,100 people took part in the study, divided across three groups: people from rural areas in Ghana, people from urban areas in Ghana and Ghanaian migrants in Amsterdam. All participants completed identical dietary questionnaires and submitted stool and blood samples. Using these, the researchers analyzed the composition of the participants' gut flora. The results confirmed that migration is associated with changes in bacterial composition in the gut, with groups of bacteria disappearing and new ones appearing. This gives migrants an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases.
International Collaboration
Cardiometabolic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, are a growing global health concern. To help reduce this risk, Agyemang is leading several studies — both in the Netherlands and internationally — to develop effective interventions. These projects involve partnerships with institutions around the world, particularly in Africa. “These findings provide important insights into how migration reshapes our gut microbiota and the consequences for our health,” says Ellis Owusu-Dabo, co-researcher and Professor of Epidemiology and Global Health at KNUST. “They also highlight the need for continued collaboration between the Global North and South."
This article is copied and translated from the original article from Intranet.