Associations of low-carb diets with glycaemic control and diabetic complications among adult Ghanaians: the RODAM study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: PURPOSE: We aimed to determine the associations of low-carb diets with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and diabetes complications among Ghanaian adults, who traditionally rely on carbohydrate-dense diets and experience a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). METHODS: This analysis used baseline data of the multi-centre RODAM (Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants) Study among Ghanaian adults (N = 5,898; 18-96 years) living in Ghana and Europe. Energy (kcal/d) and macronutrient intakes (energy%) were computed from the semi-quantitative Ghana Food Propensity Questionnaire. A low-carb diet score (0-30 points) was calculated as the sum of 0-10 points for 11 strata of carbohydrate, protein and fat intakes, respectively. For the associations with ln-transformed HbA1c, we calculated multiple-adjusted beta coefficients, 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and p-values by linear regressions and stratified by T2DM status. Among participants with T2DM, multiple-adjusted odds ratios (OR), 95% CIs, and p-values were computed by logistic regression for the associations of the low-carb diet score with microvascular and macrovascular complications. RESULTS: Neither macronutrient intakes nor the low-carb diet score were associated with ln (HbA1c) among individuals with T2DM. Among individuals without T2DM, the corresponding associations were statistically significant with marginal beta coefficients between|0.01| and|0.04|. Regarding diabetes complications, we observed an inverse association of the low-carb diet score with self-reported stroke (adjusted OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.91, 0.99). CONCLUSION: Using a low-carb diet score, our results from this Ghanaian study population do neither support the hypothesis that low-carb diets improve blood glucose control, nor that low-carb diets are associated with diabetes complications.
Source: European Journal of Nutrition
Institutions: Heidelberg University, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Loughborough University, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Johns Hopkins University, National Institutes of Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, Uganda Martyrs University, University of Potsdam, German Institute of Human Nutrition, University of the Witwatersrand, Utrecht University, University Medical Center Utrecht, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of Ghana
Language: English
Topic: Diet and metabolism studies
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,890
Funder: European Commission
OpenAlex ID: W4411118252