New Study Reveals How Migration Reshapes Gut Health, Increasing Cardiovascular Risk

A groundbreaking study led by Amsterdam UMC has found that migrants—specifically those moving from West Africa to Europe—undergo a "significant shift" in their gut microbiome compared to non-migrant peers in West Africa. This change may heighten their risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Published in Gut Microbes, the peer-reviewed research shows that migrants who lost certain microbial groups or acquired new ones faced higher rates of cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and impaired kidney function.

Key Findings:

• The study analyzed over 1,100 individuals across rural Ghana, urban Ghana, and the Netherlands.

• Migrants exhibited distinct microbiome changes linked to dietary shifts, particularly increased intake of protein, fat, and salt.

• These alterations may explain why migrants often experience poorer health outcomes than native populations.

Why It Matters:
"These results highlight the critical link between migration, microbiome changes, and health risks," says lead author Dr. Barbara Verhaar of Amsterdam UMC. Unlike past studies, this research controlled for dietary differences and used a robust cohort to confirm the microbiome’s role in migrant health disparities.

Senior author Prof. Charles Agyemang adds, "Migration doesn’t just change our surroundings—it transforms our gut ecology, with real consequences for cardiovascular health. This calls for targeted interventions and stronger global health collaborations."

The study underscores the need for longitudinal research and policies addressing migrant health. As Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo of KNUST notes, "North-south partnerships are vital to turning these insights into action."

Reference:

Verhaar, B. J. H., et al. (2025). Gut microbiota shift in Ghanaian individuals along the migration axis: the RODAM-Pros cohort. Gut Microbes. doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2025.2471960.