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A groundbreaking study published in Nature Medicine has revealed that a mere two-week shift from a traditional African diet to a Western diet can induce significant inflammation, weaken the immune response to pathogens, and activate processes linked to lifestyle diseases. Conversely, a diet rich in vegetables, fiber, and fermented foods, characteristic of traditional African eating habits, has been shown to offer protective effects.
Researchers from Radboud University Medical Center and KCMC University in Tanzania conducted the study to investigate the health implications of the rapid adoption of Western diets in Africa, which is contributing to a surge in lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic inflammatory conditions.
The study involved 77 healthy Tanzanian men from both urban and rural areas. Participants were divided into groups: those switching from a traditional African diet to a Western diet, those switching from a Western diet to a traditional African diet, those consuming a daily fermented banana drink, and a control group maintaining their usual diet. Researchers meticulously analyzed immune system function, blood inflammation markers, and metabolic processes at baseline, after the two-week intervention, and four weeks later.
The results were striking. Men who adopted a Western diet experienced a notable increase in inflammatory proteins in their blood and activation of biological processes associated with lifestyle diseases. Their immune cells also exhibited a diminished response to pathogens. In contrast, those who switched to a traditional African diet or consumed the fermented drink showed a reduction in inflammatory markers. Notably, some of these positive effects persisted even four weeks after the intervention, highlighting the long-lasting impact of short-term dietary changes.
“Previous research has focused on other traditional diets, such as the Japanese or Mediterranean diet,” explained internist Quirijn de Mast from Radboudumc. “However, there is just as much to learn from traditional African diets, especially now, as lifestyles in many African regions are rapidly changing and lifestyle diseases are increasing. Africa’s rich diversity in traditional diets offers unique opportunities to gain valuable insights into how food influences health.”
De Mast emphasized the profound impact of diet, even over a short period. “The African diet includes plenty of vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, and fermented foods. Our study highlights the benefits of these traditional food products for inflammation and metabolic processes in the body. At the same time, we show how harmful an unhealthy Western diet can be. It typically consists of processed and high-calorie foods, such as French fries and white bread, with excessive salt, refined sugars, and saturated fats.”
The researchers highlighted the relevance of these findings for Western countries, as inflammation is a key factor in many chronic conditions.
More information: Immune and metabolic effects of African heritage diets versus Western diets in men: a randomized controlled trial, Nature Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-025-03602-0
www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03602-0
Disclaimer: This news article is based on the provided information and should not be taken as medical advice. Dietary changes should be made in consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Further research may be required to validate these findings and understand the long-term effects of these dietary changes.
