Researchers at Radboud University Medical Centre and KCMC University conducted a controlled dietary trial in Tanzania and found clear effects on inflammation and immune function. Quirijn de Mast, an infectious diseases specialist and lead co-author, said diet is “among the strongest factors associated with immune variation,” and the team argues for region-specific dietary guidance rather than importing recommendations from the global North unchanged.
The trial enrolled 77 healthy men from urban and rural communities. For two weeks participants followed one of four regimens: a traditional plant-based diet common among the Chagga (including finger millet porridge, taro, ugali, okra and mchicha); a Western diet of sausages, white bread, French fries, eggs and biscuits; a daily intake of mbege, a fermented banana drink; or a control group that kept their usual diet.
Researchers measured immune function, blood inflammation markers and metabolic processes immediately after the two-week intervention and again four weeks later. The Western diet led to higher levels of inflammatory proteins and reduced immune effectiveness, while the traditional diet lowered inflammation. Some effects persisted four weeks after the diet ended.
The study notes broader health concerns in Africa: the World Health Organization reports cardiovascular diseases account for 37 per cent of deaths linked to non-communicable diseases in Africa and about 13 per cent of all deaths. Africa makes up 5.7 per cent of global cancer incidence but more than seven per cent of cancer deaths, and cancer death rates are projected to exceed the global average by 30 per cent in the next 20 years. Silvenus Konyole, an associate professor of food science and nutrition, said traditional plant-based foods are rich in antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation.
Difficult words
- inflammation — body's reaction causing redness or swellinginflammation.
- immune — relating to the body's protection against diseaseimmune variation, immune effectiveness
- regimen — planned schedule of foods or treatmentsregimens
- ferment — to change food using natural microbesfermented
- antioxidant — substance that prevents cell damage from oxidationantioxidants
- cardiovascular — relating to the heart and blood vessels
- non-communicable disease — long-term illness not spread between peoplenon-communicable diseases
- incidence — the number of new cases in a population
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could region-specific dietary guidance improve health outcomes compared with importing recommendations unchanged? Give reasons or examples.
- The study found some effects lasted four weeks after the diet ended. What does this suggest about the impact of short-term dietary changes on health?
- Traditional plant-based foods are described as rich in antioxidants. What are the benefits and possible challenges of promoting traditional diets in urban areas?
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