George Grant
University of Aberdeen, Rowett Institute, School of Medicine, Retired (now independent researcher). Also affiliated to Applied Science Research Foundation (Mérida, Yucatán, México).
A research scientist at the Rowett Research Institute and now with the University of Aberdeen with an interest in bioactive factors (plant, bacterial, mammalian and marine) and their effects on gastrointestinal and systemic metabolism of animals. Study of the mechanisms of infection by Salmonella enteritidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and roles of commensal bacteria in modulating gut/immune function and health and resistance to infection. Use of bioactive factors to aid repair processes in the gastrointestinal tract.
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Papers by George Grant
Prevalence and predisposing factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus in urban and rural black Ndebele males and females of Matebeleland, Zimbabwe
1,2. Todlana, F.S., 2. Grant, G, 3. Read, J.S. and 3. Djarova, T.G.
1. University of Westminster
2. Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, Scotland.
2.Department of Applied Biology and Biochemistry, National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM) is now an important public health problem in Southern Africa with devastating results particularly when diagnosed in its late stages. By the time patients seek medical assistance, complications including retinopathies, neuropathy, macro-vascular and microvascular complications are often present.
The aim of this investigation was to monitor the incidence and risk factors for diabetes in Ndebele people living in Matabeleland, a relatively deprived agricultural area of Zimbabwe. In this study (n=300) black urban and (n =135) rural Ndebele males and females (age 18-70 years) were recruited in the Bulawayo area in Summer season of 2002. The parameters studied were body mass index, percentage body fat, systolic and diastolic blood pressures and fasting capillary blood glucose. Twenty-four-hour food and physical activity diaries were also compiled.
In the study, fasting blood glucose levels could be discriminated into 4 groupings: normal, 3.6-6.0 mmol/l. impaired blood glucose, 6.1-6.9 mmol/l. diabetic, 7.0-10.0 mmol/l. supra-diabetic, >10 mmol/l. On this basis, all population groups could be classed as exhibiting a significant incidence of possible diabetes (16-27 per hundred). The incidence in urban and rural males appeared to be similar (21-23 per hundred), although the proportion of urban males with supra-diabetic glucose levels (10 per hundred) was higher than in the rural population (5 per hundred). The incidence amongst urban women appeared slightly lower than that for urban and rural men. In contrast, rural women appeared to have a high incidence of possible diabetes (27 per hundred) compared with the other groups.
These results are being examined in relation to changing food patterns in rural areas and the influence of social factors, which may be pre-disposing these population groups to diabetes.