Association of Dietary Patterns with Incident Type 2 Diabetes Among Migrant and Nonmigrant Ghanaian Populations in the Prospective Research on Obesity and Diabetes in African Migrants (RODAM-Pros) Study

Abstract

<h2>Abstract</h2><h3>Background</h3> Limited longitudinal knowledge exists between dietary patterns (DPs) in Africans and the incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). We investigated the association between three prevalent DPs among Ghanaians and T2D across geographical contexts (rural Ghana, urban Ghana, and Ghanaians in Amsterdam). <h3>Methodology</h3> 1,353 participants from the RODAM-Prospective study followed up for a median duration of 6.7 (6.4,6.9) years. Three previously established DPs from our baseline data (i.e. "mixed pattern," "animal pattern," and "roots and tubers pattern") were used and T2D incidence determined based on WHO criteria. Poisson regression models were used to analyse the associations between terciles of these DPs and incident T2D at follow-up among all the population, by geographical context and by sex, accounting for important covariates. <h3>Results</h3> The study revealed a significant association between the ‘animal dietary pattern' and incident T2D among the total population compared to the lower tercile of intake [Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) was 2.72; 95% CI 1.18 - 6.28 in the upper tercile and 3.33; 95% CI 1.55 -7.17 in the middle tercile]. However, when disaggregated by study site (rural Ghana, urban Ghana, and Amsterdam), these associations did not reach statistical significance, likely due to reduced statistical power in the stratified analyses. There was significant interaction between animal DP and sex, with increased risks among women (IRR 6.76 [95% CI 1.36 – 39.5]). Also, a higher intake of root, tubers and plantain DP tercile was associated with a lower risk of T2D, although not statistically significant. <h3>Conclusion</h3> We observed a positive association between adherence to an animal dietary pattern and the incidence of T2D particularly among women. Dietary modifications towards a lesser consumption of an animal-pattern diet may reduce the risk of T2D at the population level.