Metabolic syndrome risk unexpectedly predicted by traditional food consumption: shifting food systems and health among the Awajún of the Peruvian Amazon

Abstract

Background

Dietary changes, especially declines in traditional food diversity and increases in the consumption of processed foods, have previously been shown to increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Aim

We evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for metabolic syndrome in four Awajún communities in the Peruvian Amazon.

Subjects and methods

A total of 222 participants answered a socioeconomic questionnaire, a 24-h food recall, and completed a physical examination for metabolic syndrome diagnosis. A Poisson regression with robust variance was used in the statistical analysis of risk factors for metabolic syndrome.

Results

We found an overall prevalence of 24% for metabolic syndrome. Being female, increased age and body mass index were significant risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Surprisingly, risk more than doubled with the ratio of traditional foods. However, this study revealed that there are fewer traditional foods being consumed in this study compared to prior studies among the Awajún.

Conclusion

We suggest that the unexpected relationship between traditional food consumption and metabolic syndrome may be due to substantial reductions in the diversity of traditional foods. Currently available traditional foods are primarily high in carbohydrates and are supplemented with cheap, non-perishable, and carbohydrate heavy market food items.

Keywords:

• Metabolic syndrome (MetS)
• indigenous
• traditional food systems
• Peru
• cardiovascular disease risk

Acknowledgements

Permission to conduct this study was given by representatives of the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment and from the Organización Regional de los Pueblos de las Comunidades Indígenas de la Amazonıa Peruana Norte (ORPIAN), and the four leaders of the participating communities. This research forms part of the thesis towards obtaining the License title of Biologist at the UPCH (GSS). Special thanks go to Mr Edilberto Kinin, Nerio Kinin, and all involved participants.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, AVV, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by a Wenner-Gren Foundation Dissertation Fieldwork Grant (PST).