Education, Smoking and Genetics in Relation to C-Reactive Protein Concentrations in Black South Africans.

Because elevated circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) and low socio-economic status (SES), have both been implicated in cardiovascular disease development, we investigated whether SES factors associate with and interact with polymorphisms in relation to the phenotype. Included in the study were 1569 black South Africans for whom CRP concentrations, 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), cardiovascular health markers, and SES factors were known. None of the investigated SES aspects was found to associate with CRP concentrations when measured individually; however, in adjusted analyses, attaining twelve or more years of formal education resulted in a hypothetically predicted 18.

Common Variants Associated with Type 2 Diabetes in a Black South African Population of Setswana Descent: African Populations Diverge.

The increasing worldwide prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a serious global health concern. Although T2D has a strong genetic etiology, limited knowledge exists about the common variants associated with it in the black South African population. This study set out to evaluate the association of previously reported common variants in other world populations with T2D susceptibility in a black South African population of Setswana descent.

Sex differences independent of other psycho-sociodemographic factors as a predictor of body mass index in black South African adults.

To better understand the sex differences in body mass index (BMI) observed in black South African adults in the Transition and Health during Urbanization of South Africans Study, the present study investigated whether these differences can be explained by the psycho-sociodemographic factors and/or health-related behaviours. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken among 1,842 black South African individuals from 37 study sites that represented five levels of urbanization. The behavioural factors that possibly could have an influence on the outcome of body-weight and that were explored included: diet, smoking, level of education, HIV infection, employment status, level of urbanization, intake of alcohol, physical activity, and neuroticism.

Hypoadiponectinemia is associated with progression toward type 2 diabetes and genetic variation in the ADIPOQ gene promoter.

Objective: Adiponectin encoded by the ADIPOQ gene modulates insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether ADIPOQ gene variants in the promoter region predict adiponectin levels and type 2 diabetes progression.

Research Design And Methods: A total of 550 subjects with increased risk of type 2 diabetes were investigated; they underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, repeated after 3 years.