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

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.