(P13-067-25) Levels of Food Processing And Risk of Dyslipidemia Among Different Ghanaian Populations: A Pros-Rodam Cohort Study

Objectives: We investigated the relationship between various levels of processed food consumption and incident dyslipidemia among rural and urban Ghanaians and Ghanaian migrants in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Methods: Dietary data were extracted from the RODAM-Pros (Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants – prospective) cohort study, which collected data from Ghanaian populations living in rural and urban Ghana and Ghanaian migrants living in Amsterdam between 2011-2021. Dietary intake data were characterized based on the extent and purpose of industrial processing according to the NOVA classification. Associations were determined using Cox proportional regression analysis.

Results: The cumulative incidence of low high-density lipoprotein (low-HDL) cholesterol, high levels of low-density lipoprotein (high-LDL) cholesterol and high triglycerides was 55.9% (IR: 565/5819 person-years), 24.9%(IR:189/4275 person-years) and 6.2% (IR:87/8046 person-years), respectively. The percentage of daily energy intake from unprocessed/minimally processed foods was associated with a 2% reduction in the risk of a high LDL-cholesterol (Adjusted HR: 0.98, 95%CI: 0.97 – 0.99, p=0.015) and the percentage of daily intake of energy from processed food was associated with a 2% increased risk of high LDL-cholesterol (Adjusted HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01 – 1.04, p=0.019). Percentage of energy from culinary ingredients was associated with risk of high triglycerides (HR: 1.28, 95% CI (1.06 – 1.54), P=0.012). Further, there was an 8-fold (adjusted HR: 9.03, 95%CI:2.89 – 28.25, p< 0.001) and 2-fold (Adjusted HR: 3.02, 95%CI: 1.01 – 9.14, p=0.049) increased risks of high triglycerides among the urban Ghanaians and migrant population in Amsterdam, respectively, compared with those in rural areas.

Conclusions: The risk of dyslipidemia was found to be high among Ghanaians living in Amsterdam and urban areas in Ghana compared with their rural counterparts. Moreover, intake of  processed foods and culinary ingredients increased the risk of dyslipidemia whilst unprocessed food was protective.

Funding Sources: The data used was collected with funding from the European Research Council however the current analysis was done without additional funding.