Exploring the relationship between diabetes mellitus and environmental fluoride contamination in selected areas of Tanzania

A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Master`s in Life Sciences of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyPrevalence of Diabetes Mellitus in Tanzania is on the increase. Some few studies have linked fluoride contamination with possibilities of having effects on the insulin production resulting to Diabetes Mellitus. This has not been fully explored in Tanzania. Therefore, this study was undertaken to examine any relationship between fluoride levels in human blood serum and Diabetes Mellitus status of individuals in specific two wards of Tanzania. Cross sectional survey was conducted to explore the relationship between Diabetes Mellitus and fluoride in human blood serum whereby, two locations with different characteristics of environmental fluoride contamination in water sources were investigated. These areas were Ngarenanyuki ward (fluoride endemic area) in Arusha region and Mlandizi ward (non-endemic area) in Pwani region. The survey was conducted where 300 individuals (participants) were sampled from the study locations and consent for fasting blood sugar levels test, whereby, 97 individuals among them consent for both fasting blood sugar test and fluoride levels in blood serum determination. The prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus through fasting blood sugar test was 8.3%. High Diabetes prevalence was recorded at Mlandizi ward compared to Ngarenanyuki ward, though the difference was not significantly different (p = 0.144). Serum fluoride > 0.0 6 mg/l was significantly high in Ngarenanyuki (79%) compared to Mlandizi (21%) (P < 0.001). However, the current study did not establish any association between Fasting Blood Sugar tests and fluoride levels in blood serum (Pearson`s correlation coefficient analysis, r = - 0.0632; P < 0.663). Further work to include other cofounders is therefore recommended in order to understand broadly the influence of fluoride in Diabetes prevalence in fluoride endemic areas

Influence of fluoride on the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in selected fluoride endemic areas of Tanzania

This research article published by International Journal of Biosciences, 2019Diabetes Mellitus prevalence in developing countries and globally is on the increase due to various factors and its association with excessive fluoride contamination is not much elucidated. This study aims to determine fluoride levels in serum along with capillary fasting blood sugar levels of individuals in selected area of Ngarenanyuki ward (fluoride endemic) in Arusha region, located at the slopes of volcanic mount Meru, which is connected to East African Great Rift Valley System. A cross sectional survey was conducted to assess fluoride levels in human sera (Measured by minitype Ion-Selective Electrode) and capillary fasting blood sugar levels (Measured by Automatic glucometer) in the community, after overnight fasting and to look for its relationship. The survey was conducted whereby, 50 individuals, aged 25 years old and above volunteered and consented for fluoride levels in serum determination along with capillary fasting blood sugar test. The 32 participants enrolled were females while18 were males. The mean age of the study participants was 48.7 (13.4) years. The median (range) fasting blood sugar was 4.8 (3.0 – 14.7) mmol/l and fluoride levels in serum was 0.0543 (0.0324 – 0.2200) mg/l. The correlation between the levels of fluoride in serum and fasting blood sugar was (Pearson`s correlation coefficient (r) = - 0.0632 and p < 0.663). There was no significant correlation between fluoride levels in serum and fasting blood sugar levels. The findings indicate that fluoride levels in serum does not influence the increase of fasting blood sugar levels. Further work to include other confounders is therefore recommended in order to understand broadly the influence of fluoride in hyperglycemia