Changes in diet after migration can alter the gut microbiota and increase the risk of heart disease, research suggests

A UMC-led study in Amsterdam found that immigrants, in this case West Africa to Europe, experienced a “clear change” in microbiome composition compared to their non-immigrant peers in West Africa.

These peer-reviewed findings have been published in the journal GUT microorganisms and show that participants who have lost a specific group of microorganisms or a specific new group of microorganisms have a higher rate of cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and decreased renal function.

“The results clearly demonstrate the importance of the findings on immigration-related health outcomes,” explains Barbara Belhar, a postdoctoral researcher at Amsterdam UMC and the first author of the study, who worked with colleagues at the University of Ghana and worked with colleagues at Kwamnukulma University Science and Technology (Knust).

“While migration was already thought to affect individual microbiota, previous studies have not compared only first and second generation immigrants, whether they lacked individual numbers or did not control dietary variation. Our study utilizes our own Rodham research cohort to clearly demonstrate this change,” says Verhaar.

The UMC-led study in Amsterdam included more than 1,100 individuals from two separate continents and three locations. It is in the countryside of Ghana, the city of Ghana and the Netherlands. Respondents completed the same dietary questionnaire and provided both fecal and blood samples to determine the composition of the gut microbiota.

The analysis revealed the presence of different microorganisms across the three groups, in line with the hypothesis that migration affects microbiota composition. Findings show that some microbial groups disappear and new microbial groups appear along the axis of migration.

Previous research and the World Health Organization note that immigrants experience healthier outcomes more frequently than resident residents, and a study from Amsterdam UMC found this too in the Netherlands.

“This study highlights the associations of gut health and how we view the adverse health outcomes that are often associated with migration,” adds Charles Aggieman, professor of global immigration, ethnicity and health at Amsterdam UMC and senior author of the study.

“When we move, it is fascinating to lose some of the associated microorganisms we acquired in our home country and learn to pick up new microorganisms in our new country.

“Macronutrient groups such as protein, fat and salt in food are related to the composition of the gut microbiota, which we found to be the strongest among migrants who contributed to changes in the composition of the gut microbiota. Future longitudinal studies are needed to verify these findings.”

The risks of cardiovascular metabolism are growing concern for researchers around the world, and Aggieman is currently leading many projects in both the Netherlands and several African countries, aiming to develop better interventions to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular metabolic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. To improve the management of cardiac metabolic diseases.

As part of these efforts, like this study, he works with several institutions around the world, particularly in the African region, to ensure that research in Amsterdam is enhanced with international data and that the findings are translated into concrete policies.

“The findings of this study provide important insights into how migration can reconstruct our gut microbiome and subsequent health outcomes and highlight the need for North-South cooperation,” adds Ellis Ouso Dabo, professor of epidemiology and global health.