TY - JOUR

T1 - Food intake and cardiometabolic risk factors in rural Uganda

AU - Holmager, Therese L.F.

AU - Meyrowitsch, Dan W.

AU - Bahendeka, Silver

AU - Nielsen, Jannie

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Background: Along with a nutritional transition in Sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases is increasing rapidly. We assess the association between food intake and cardiometabolic risk factors in a rural population in Uganda. Methods: The present study was based on data from a household-based case-control study of diabetic and non-diabetic households in Southwestern Uganda, 2012–2013. We analysed food intake in 359 individuals age ≥ 13 years from 87 households, using a household food frequency questionnaire, and measures of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), height and weight. We used multinomial logistic regression to model abnormal HbA1c (≥5.7%) and weight status (underweight, normal weight and overweight) as an outcome of total food intake and by nine food groups. Results were reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Models were adjusted for three nested sets of covariates. Results: The diet primarily consisted of staple food (cassava and plantain). High-Glycaemic Index staple food was the most consumed food group (median = 14 servings/week, p25-p75: 11–17). Milk, meat, fish and vegetables were the least consumed food groups (medians: 0–3 servings/week). Median intake of sugary food was 6 servings/week (p25-p75: 2–9). The OR of having abnormal HbA1c or being overweight increased with every weekly serving of food (1.02, 95% CI: 1.00–1.04 and 1.01 95% CI: 1.00–1.03, respectively). Of specific food groups, each weekly serving of meat increased the OR of being overweight with 33% (95% CI: 1.08–1.64), and fruit intake decreased the OR of abnormal HbA1c (0.94, 95% CI: 0.88–1.00), though this latter association was attenuated after adjustment for weight status, aerobic capacity, and socioeconomic status. Conclusion: Diet was monotonous, mainly consisting of cassava and plantain, and increasing food intake was associated with abnormal HbA1c and overweight. To prevent non-communicable diseases a diet with higher intake of fish and vegetables, and less sugary food is recommended.

AB - Background: Along with a nutritional transition in Sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases is increasing rapidly. We assess the association between food intake and cardiometabolic risk factors in a rural population in Uganda. Methods: The present study was based on data from a household-based case-control study of diabetic and non-diabetic households in Southwestern Uganda, 2012–2013. We analysed food intake in 359 individuals age ≥ 13 years from 87 households, using a household food frequency questionnaire, and measures of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), height and weight. We used multinomial logistic regression to model abnormal HbA1c (≥5.7%) and weight status (underweight, normal weight and overweight) as an outcome of total food intake and by nine food groups. Results were reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Models were adjusted for three nested sets of covariates. Results: The diet primarily consisted of staple food (cassava and plantain). High-Glycaemic Index staple food was the most consumed food group (median = 14 servings/week, p25-p75: 11–17). Milk, meat, fish and vegetables were the least consumed food groups (medians: 0–3 servings/week). Median intake of sugary food was 6 servings/week (p25-p75: 2–9). The OR of having abnormal HbA1c or being overweight increased with every weekly serving of food (1.02, 95% CI: 1.00–1.04 and 1.01 95% CI: 1.00–1.03, respectively). Of specific food groups, each weekly serving of meat increased the OR of being overweight with 33% (95% CI: 1.08–1.64), and fruit intake decreased the OR of abnormal HbA1c (0.94, 95% CI: 0.88–1.00), though this latter association was attenuated after adjustment for weight status, aerobic capacity, and socioeconomic status. Conclusion: Diet was monotonous, mainly consisting of cassava and plantain, and increasing food intake was associated with abnormal HbA1c and overweight. To prevent non-communicable diseases a diet with higher intake of fish and vegetables, and less sugary food is recommended.

KW - Cardiometabolic

KW - Diet

KW - Overweight

KW - Sub-Saharan Africa

KW - Type 2 diabetes

U2 - 10.1186/s13690-021-00547-x

DO - 10.1186/s13690-021-00547-x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33632319

AN - SCOPUS:85101689619

VL - 79

JO - Archives of Public Health

JF - Archives of Public Health

SN - 0778-7367

IS - 1

M1 - 24

ER -