Is Acanthosis Nigricans a Marker of Insulin Resistance in Obese Children?

Abstract

Acanthosis nigricans (AN) was proposed as an insulin resistance marker and an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes (1). A number of studies had associated AN with insulin resistance (IR) and much higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes in childhood. (2) Although children with AN are often obese, only few studies have considered the roles of BMI and AN as independent markers of IR. The purpose of this research was to compare several indexes of IR (i.e., homeostasis model assessment of IR [HOMA-IR], insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 [IGFBP1] levels, and base insulinemia) in obese children with and without AN and to determine the rate of association between AN and BMI, HDL, triglycerides, and other predictors of type 2 diabetes. A total …