Prevalence of acanthosis nigricans and its association with hyperinsulinemia in New Mexico adolescents

• Published in: Journal of adolescent health 2001-05, Vol.28 (5), p.372-376
• Main Authors: Mukhtar, Qaiser, Cleverley, Georgia, Voorhees, Ronald E, McGrath, Jane W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acanthosis nigricans; Acanthosis Nigricans - complications; Acanthosis Nigricans - epidemiology; Adolescent; Adolescents; Associated diseases and complications; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diet; Diseases; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Female; Humans; Hyperinsulinemia; Hyperinsulinism - complications; Hyperinsulinism - epidemiology; Junior High School Students; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Middle schools; New Mexico; New Mexico - epidemiology; Obesity; Obesity - complications; Obesity - epidemiology; Physical activity; Prevalence; Risk factors; Screening; Selection Bias; Students; Surveys and Questionnaires; Type 2 diabetes; USA
• ISSN: 1054-139X; 1879-1972
• DOI: 10.1016/S1054-139X(00)00217-2

Purpose: To determine whether the association between acanthosis nigricans (AN) and hyperinsulinemia is independent of obesity and other variables. Methods: A convenience sample of 675 New Mexico middle school students was screened to determine the presence of AN, obesity, and other variables, including: ethnicity, parental history of diabetes, and level of physical activity. Fasting glucose and insulin levels were drawn on 233 students to determine the association between risk factors and hyperinsulinemia. Results: Acanthosis nigricans (AN) was present in 18.9% of students screened. Twenty-one percent of the subsample had hyperinsulinemia. Based on these results, the estimated prevalence of hyperinsulinemia among all middle school students in New Mexico was 8.9%. Forty-seven percent (47.2%) of students who had AN and were obese had hyperinsulinemia, compared with 2.4% of students who did not have either of these conditions. In multiple logistic regression analysis, AN and obesity were independently and positively associated with hyperinsulinemia, whereas physical activity was protective. Conclusions: The high prevalence of risk factors in this population makes diabetes prevention a priority for public health action. AN screening is an easily performed, noninvasive method for identifying adolescents at risk for type 2 diabetes.