The Ganesh Study. Risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease in Surinamese South Asian children aged 5 through 12 years and the relation to anthropometry.

10 percent of all inhabitants in the Hague are of Surinamese South Asian
origin. This ethnic group has received special attention from the Municipal
Health Service (GGD) since the past 10 to 15 years because of the increased
risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease compared to Dutch
Caucasians. It is also known that already in childhood South Asians are more
insulin resistant and have a higher mean blood pressure than other ethnic
groups.
Body composition in South Asians is different from other ethnic groups with
regard to muscle mass and fat mass and this difference might play an important
role in the increased health risks.

Because of the possible association of health with anthropometry in children
the Municipal Health Service in The Hague has initiated the development of
growth charts specifically for Surinamese South Asian children as part of the
fifth nationwide Growth study that started in 2008 in 53 municipalities in the
Netherlands. It is expected that health professionals in Child Health Care and
pediatricians with these growth charts will be able to better assess growth in
South Asian children.

It is unknown whether cardiovascular risk factors and type 2 diabetes/insulin
resistance are already present at a young age in Surinamese South Asian
children and it is also unknown whether these risk factors are associated with
antropometric data such as Body Mass Index, waist circumference and body fat
percentage. Whether there are differences between Dutch and Surinamese South
Asian children is also not known.
The Municipal Health Service of the Hague therefore wants to study the relation
between risk factors for cardiovascular disease/diabetes and anthropometry. A
sample of Surinamese South Asian and Dutch children that have participated in
the growth study will be asked to participate.

During the Growth Study Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA) was conducted.
With a validated equation for the BIA for both Caucasian and South Asian
Children body fatpercentage can be calculated. However, it is not known if
these equations can be applied to Dutch and Surinamese South Asian children.

Aim of this study is to acquire more insight in the relation between risk
factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes and anthropometric
measures such as BMI, waist circumference and body fat percentage and compare
the results between the two participating ethnic groups, Dutch and Surinamese
South Asian children.

A secondary objective is to test known BIA equations on the impedance
measurments in Caucasian and Surinamese South Asian children with a Dual energy
X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan.

Observational study

The burden and risks associated with participation are minimal. The
measurements taken and blood withdrawal is done during one visit. Blood
withdrawal is being done with only one finger prick. The finger will also be
anaesthetized with a local anesthetic spray.
Parents of young children will be present during the procedures.
The DXA scan will be carried out in a hospital. The radiation dose is minimal,
equivalent to 0,038 mSv.