Matilda Asante

Diet and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Ghanaians in London and Accra Matilda Asante

Cardiovascular disease risk factors is increasing in the West African sub-region and its migrants to the West. This increase has been associated with the emergence of risk factors caused by changing lifestyle. This book compares cardiovascular risk factors among a first generation Ghanaian migrant population in the UK with an urban population in Accra, Ghana, their country of origin. Specific focus was on markers of folate status including plasma homocysteine, which is related to stroke but has not been studied previously in this population. Findings from the study indicated that migration to the UK results in improvement of biomarkers of folate status and an improved lipid profile. This is however offset by unfavourable blood glucose and insulin concentrations.