Prof RT Erasmus, Dr A Zemlin
South Africans have one of the highest prevalence rates of diabetes and obesity in continental Africa. From both a public and clinical perspective there is an increasing need to detect people at risk for future development of obesity related diseases such as diabetes as it is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The Belliville South Africa Study Group was established in 2006/2007 by Professor Erasmus following the completion of a study that examined the prevalence of obesity, diabetes and hypertension amongst learners residing in the Western Cape.Initially it was a collaborative project between Chemical Pathology, Stellenbosch University (Prof Erasmus) and Biomedical Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (Prof Matsha & Mr Hassan) but has since expanded to include the University of Western Cape (Sports Sciences) (Dr Basset), Department of Physiology (Stellenbosch University, main campus) (Prof Essop), North Western University, Potchefstroom (Prof Kruger) and the Medical Research Council (Dr Kengne).To assess the magnitude of obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes (metabolic syndrome) in children and adults in the Western Cape, South Africa.
Investigate mutations and/or polymorphisms in various obesity, and insulin resistance related genes.
Assess the role of identified mutations and/or polymorphisms in obesity and their relationship with environmental factors
To examine whether smoking independently or in association with other risk factors increase oxidative stress in IGT, consequently leading to CVD.
To explore and assess various environmental and genetic factors that predispose to cardiovascular disease states
To develop tests and tools that can identify subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes at an earlier stage which are also more sensitive and specific than the current ones
Determine the factors that are associated with chronic kidney disease and hyperlipidaemia in this population group
Explore the relationship between diabetes and dementia
- Somers A, Hassan S, Rusford E, Erasmus RT (2006). Screening for diabetes in learners residing in the Western Cape. SA FamPract, 88 (5) : 16-20.
- Somers A, Rusford E, Shafiek H, Erasmus R (2006). Obesity and Overweight in children residing in the Western Cape. Medical Technology, 20 (1): 11-20.
- Somers A, Hassan S, Rusford E, Erasmus RT (2007). Childhood Obesity: Blood pressure levels in learners from the urban communities of Cape Town, South Africa. Medical Technology, 21 (2) : 14-18.
- Matsha T, Hassan S, Bhata A, Yako Y, Fanampe B, Somers A, Hoffmann M, Mohammed Z,
- Erasmus RT. Metabolic Syndrome in 10 -16 year old learners from the Western Cape, South Africa: Comparison of the NCEP ATP III and IDF criteria. Atherosclerosis, 2009; 205: 363-366.
- Matsha T, Fanampe B, Yako Y, Hassan S, Hoffman M, van der Merwe L, Erasmus RT. Association of the ENPP1 rs997509 polymorphism with obesity in the South African population. East African Medical Journal, 2010; 87(8): 323 - 329.
- Yako Y, Hassan MS, Erasmus RT, Hoffman M, Fanampe B, Matsha T. Sequence variants in the melanocortin receptor (MC4R and MC3R) genes in obese and overweight youth from Western Cape South Africa. S Afric Med J 2011; 101: 417 – 420.
- Yako YY, Fanampe BL, Hassan MS, Erasmus RT, van der Merwe L, van Rensburg SJ, Matsha TE. Leptin-melanocortin genes and obesity traits in South African learners. J NutrigenetNutrigenomics 2011;4:210-221 (DOI: 10.1159/000329614)
- Zemlin AE, Matsha TE, Hassan MS, Erasmus RT (2011) HbA1c of 6.5% to Diagnose Diabetes Mellitus—Does It Work for Us?—The Bellville South Africa Study. PLoS ONE, 2011; 6(8): e22558. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0022558.
- Matsha T, Hassan MS, Kidd M, Erasmus RT. The 30-year Cardiovascular Risk Profile of South Africans with Diagnosed Diabetes, Undiagnosed Diabetes, Pre-Diabetes or Normoglycaemia.The Bellville-South Africa Study.Cardiovasc J Afr 2012; 23: 5–11 DOI: 10.5830/CVJA-2010-087
- Yandiswa Yolanda Yako, MogamatShafick Hassan, Rajiv Timothy Erasmus, Lize van der Merwe, Susan Janse van Rensburg,Tandi Edith Matsha. Associations of MC3R polymorphisms with Physical activity in South African Adolescents. J Physic Activity Health 2012 (in press).
- Macharia M, Hassan MS, Blackhurst DM, Erasmus RT, Matsha TE. The growing importance of PON 1 in cardiovascular health. J Cardiovsc Med 2012 (in press).
- Matsha T, Tjaronda T, Hon G, Esterhuyse J, Hassan M, Erasmus R. Antibodies against oxidized LDL and cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with hyperglycaemia. S Afric J Diab and Cardiovasc Dis 2012 (in press).
- Rensburg M, Matsha T, Hoffmann M, Hassan M, ErasmusRT. Distribution of hsCRP and its association with Cardiovascular risk factor variables of the Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescent learners from the Western Cape. Afric J Lab Med 2012 (in press).
- Erasmus RT, Soita D, Blanco, E, Kengne A, Matsha T.High Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Syndrome in a South African Mixed Ancestry Population: The Bellville-South Africa Study - Baseline Data SAMJ , 2012 (In press)
- Springhorn C, Matsha T, Erasmus R,Essop F. Exploring Leukocyte O-GlcNAcylation as a Novel Diagnostic Tool for the Earlier Detection of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. J ClinEndocrin&Metab, 2012 (In press)
- MatshaT,Soita D, Yako Y, Hon D, Hassan SKengne A, Erasmus R. Three-year's changes in glucose tolerance status in the Bellville South cohort: Rates and phenotypes associated with progression. Journal of Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 2012 (In press)
