The Open Diabetes Journal

2019, 9 : 8-15
Published online 2019 July 31. DOI: 10.2174/1876524601909010008
Publisher ID: TODIAJ-9-8

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 Markers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in only Diabetic and Obese Ghanaian Populations: The RODAM Study

Samuel N. Darko1,2 , William K.B.A. Owiredu2 , Denis Yar1 , Charles Agyemang3 , Erik Beune3 , Juliet Addo4 , Ama de Graft Aikins5 , Silver Bahendeka6 , Frank Mockenhaupt7 , Joachim Spranger8 , Peter Agyei-Baffour9 , Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch10,11 , Liam Smeeth4 and Ellis Owusu-Dabo1,9, *

* Address correspondence to this author at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana; E-mails: /owusudabo@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Background:

The RODAM study has established a link between peripheral insulin resistance and varying fasting blood glucose levels among Ghanaian populations. However, associations of oxidative stress and inflammation with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and obesity is yet to be assessed in this population.

Objective:

This study determined the association of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in T2DM and obesity among Ghanaian migrants in Europe and non-migrants in Ghana.

Methods:

Socio-demographic and anthropometric variables were collected from 5350 participants of 25-70 years and stratified into migrant Ghanaians (n= 2921), urban (n=1411) and rural Ghanaians (n=1018). C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Uric Acid (UA) and ferritin were quantified and associations drawn between these markers and the metabolic disorders using logistic regression.

Results:

Overall mean ages (years) were highest for migrant Ghanaians [46.59, 95%CI (46.24, 46.93)] compared to rural [46.49 (45.72, 47.26)] and urban [45.24 (44.65, 45.83)]. CRP was associated with obesity and T2DM respectively in urban [OR=1.531, 95%CI (1.407, 1.666): OR=1.354, 95% CI (1.195, 1.535)] and migrant Ghanaians [OR=1.552, 95% CI (1.449, 1.662): OR=1.405, 95%CI (1.234, 1.600)]. Similarly, ferritin was positively associated (p<0.05) with T2DM in migrant [OR=1.312, 95% CI (1.058, 1.626)], urban [OR=1.972, 95% CI (1.510, 2.575)] and rural Ghanaians [OR=1.240, 95%CI (1.020, 1.507)].

Conclusion:

CRP and ferritin are associated with T2DM in Ghanaian populations at varying magnitudes. Moreover, indulgence in lifestyles that elevate inflammation and oxidative stress has the potential to increase risk of T2DM and obesity among Ghanaian populations.

Keywords:

Inflammatory marker, Oxidative stress, Obesity, Diabetes, Ferritin, CRP.