Association of acanthosis nigricans with anthropometric and biochemical parameters in young Indian males

Abstract

Background: Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a skin condition associated with insulin resistance, and highly correlated with hyperinsulinemia, type 2 diabetes, and obesity; with scarcity of information regarding its status in young adult subjects. Aim: To determine the association between the presence of AN with biochemical parameters and anthropometric variables. Subjects and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included young male subjects from outpatient department of Medicine of a tertiary care center in North India. They were divided into three group of 40 subjects each. Group I consisted of subjects having AN, Group II consisted of obese/overweight subjects without AN, and Group III consisted of control subjects without AN or obesity. Covariates included family history of diabetes. Results: There was a significant positive association (P < 0.001) between AN and high body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose, waist-hip ratio (WHR), and systolic blood pressure (BP) even when controlled for obesity. For lipoproteins, insulin, and diastolic BP, the association even though significant, was inconsistent when obesity was taken into consideration. Conclusion: Individuals with AN have lower high-density lipoproteins, and higher BMI, fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum insulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins, and systolic as well as diastolic pressure. Irrespective of being obese, AN is associated with a high BMI, WHR, FBG and systolic BP in young adults.