Potchefstroom

Young South African women living with overweight (OW) or obesity (OB) face a higher risk of iron deficiency and anemia due to factors like poor iron intake, low iron absorption, and menstrual and gastrointestinal iron losses. This research aims to compare iron absorption and losses over a year between women with and without OW/OB. The study also looks at iron and inflammation status and dietary iron intake to understand if women with OW/OB can meet their iron needs from their regular diet. The study has two phases. In phase 1, 70 healthy young women with and without OW/OB will receive a single dose of 15 mg iron as ferrous sulfate labeled with an iron isotope. Iron absorption is measured by testing blood samples 14 days later. After a one-year equilibration period with monthly health checks, phase 2 begins for eligible participants. They will be followed for 6 months with blood samples collected every 8 weeks to assess iron absorption, iron and inflammation status, and dietary intake. Some participants with regular menstrual cycles will have additional blood draws during specific menstrual phases. Participants will be involved in health and medical history checks, weight and hemoglobin measurements, and urine pregnancy tests. They will provide dietary information using 24-hour recalls at several visits. Researchers will track iron absorption through isotope measurements in blood over time and monitor inflammation and iron status. The total participation lasts about 18 months, including the equilibration and follow-up periods, with careful monitoring of health and supplement use throughout.

The Childhood Hypertension Consortium of South Africa (CHCSA) was established to build connections between healthcare providers and schools through community outreach, aiming to improve understanding of blood pressure and hypertension in children, especially those of African ancestry. Currently, South Africa lacks nationally representative blood pressure reference values for children and has no data on the true prevalence of pediatric hypertension. This study seeks to develop the first national normal blood pressure reference values and clinical guidelines for managing childhood hypertension in South Africa. Children aged 5 to under 18 years from all provinces and school quintiles in South Africa will be randomly selected to participate, ensuring a representative sample of urban, peri-urban, and rural settings. The study plans to recruit 22,464 children from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including Black African, Coloured, White, and Indian/Asian groups. Blood pressure and body measurements will be taken to create South African-specific nomograms and develop hypertension management guidelines tailored to local needs. Participants will undergo blood pressure and anthropometric assessments during the study, which will collect data over five years. Researchers will measure blood pressure and body size to establish normative reference values and generate clinical practice guidelines. This information will help healthcare providers better identify and manage hypertension in South African children, with results expected to differ from current international standards. The study also includes community engagement to raise awareness and improve care for high blood pressure and related conditions.

Researchers are studying how individual and societal factors affect health outcomes such as death and the development of chronic diseases across different socioeconomic and healthcare settings. This research also explores genetic influences on non-communicable diseases through both a cross-sectional and a long-term follow-up approach. The study focuses on understanding the impact of the built environment, food and nutrition policies, psychosocial and socioeconomic factors, tobacco use, and the quality of health systems. The study does not involve specific interventions but observes health-related behaviors including diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use. It monitors how societal influences relate to risk factors and the occurrence of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and cancer. Genetic factors for non-communicable diseases are also investigated as part of this comprehensive analysis. Participants aged 35 to 70 are followed over an average of 10 years to assess the development of cardiovascular disease and other health outcomes. Researchers collect data on societal determinants, risk factors, and health behaviors, as well as genetic information. The study aims to understand how these elements relate to disease incidence and mortality, considering different health resource settings worldwide.