The Relationship between Binge Drinking and Metabolic Syndrome Components amongst Young Adults Aged 21 to 31 Years: Ellisras Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence is lacking on the effects of binge alcohol consumption on metabolic syndrome in the rural South African population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between binge drinking and components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) amongst Ellisras rural young adults aged 21 to 31 years who are part of the Ellisras Longitudinal Study. METHODS: Logistic regression analysis was applied to a total of 624 participants (306 males and 318 females) aged 21 to 31 years who took part in the Ellisras Longitudinal Study (ELS). The model was adjusted for covariates, including smoking, age, and gender. Binge alcohol consumption was assessed using a standardised questionnaire that was validated for the Ellisras rural community. A standardised method of determining the components MetS was used after fasting blood samples were collected from all the participants. RESULTS: Binge drinking remained significantly associated with low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (OR = 2.64, 95% CI = 1.23-5.65), after being adjusted for smoking, age, and gender. Other MetS components were not predicted. Instead, gender remained significantly associated with all MetS components, except triglycerides, at multivariate analysis. Age retained significance at multivariate analysis with waist girth (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.37-3.34), triglycerides (OR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.05-5.02), and the MetS composite (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.12-2.41). CONCLUSION: Binge drinking was significantly associated with lower levels of HDL-C. Future studies should investigate the relationship between alcohol abuse and the components of incident MetS in this population.

Ellisras Longitudinal Study 2017: the association of fat patterning with blood pressure in Polokwane private school children aged five to 15 years (ELS 22).

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases and is a global public health concern. OBJECTIVE: The main objectives of this study were to investigate the association of fat patterning and blood pressure among five- to 15-year-old black children attending private schools in Polokwane, South Africa, and to determine the prevalence of obesity and hypertension. METHODS: A total of 1 665 subjects (846 boys and 819 girls), aged five to 15 years and attending three private schools in Polokwane, were included in the study. All anthropometric measurements were taken according to standard procedures of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. All data were analysed using SPSS. RESULTS: Girls showed a higher prevalence of over-fatness (10.2-12.3%) and hypertension (1.4-33.0%) than boys (7.3-10.3, 3.6-21.3%, respectively). The sum of four skinfolds, trunk skinfolds relative to limb skinfold, and body mass index (BMI) were positively associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.01). There was a significant positive (p < 0.001) association between over-fatness and hypertension, both unadjusted (OR = 3.11; 95% CI = 2.17-4.46) and adjusted for age and gender (OR = 3.29; 95% CI = 2.22-4.86). CONCLUSIONS: These Polokwane private school children with high body fatness were at risk for developing high blood pressure.