This research article published by International Journal of Biosciences, 2019
Diabetes 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.