Identification of Acantosis nigricans and its Relationship with Obesity and Insulin Resistance in Children and Adolescents in a Primary Care Unit in Michoacan, Mexico

Abstract

Objective: to identify the relation of Acantosis nigricans (an) with obesity and Insulin Resistance (ir) in children and adolescents from 10 to 16 years old. Material and methods: descriptive, cross sectional study. After signing an informed consent which included a non random sample of convenience of 146 children and adolescents aged 10 to 16 from May 2008 to June 2009; the sample was categorized in two groups: 69 with an and 77 without an. The following variables were assessed: glucose and insulin in fasting and postprandial triglycerides, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, blood pressure, weight, height, Body Mass Index (bmi) and body composition; subsequently the homa index (Homeostasis Model Assessment) was calculated. Cutoff points were established according to the atp iii (Adult Treatment Panel), and differences between groups were analyzed with the Student t test. Results: the age of the sample studied did not show important differences between adolescents with an 12.9±1.9 and without an 13.05±2.1. Important differences were found in the following variables: weight: an 66.1±14.1, without an 60.53±15.7 p=.01; bmi: an 27.5±3.9, without an 24.8±7.3 p=.008; homa: an 3.9±2.5, without an 2.8±3.2 p=.034; cholesterol: an 173.5±32.8, without an 160.9±37.6 p=.03; triglycerides: an 150.9±63.3, without an 119.5 ± 66.5 p=.004; High Density Lipoprotein (hdl): an 35.1±7.3, without an 41.0±8.9 p=.00; Systolic Blood Pressure (sbp): an 115.7±11.6, without an 111.74±10.4 p=.02; Diastolic Blood Pressure (dbp): an 4.0±9.5, without an 69.19±8.5 p=.001. Conclusions: 100% of the children and adolescents with an presented some changes either clinical or biochemical, in these adolescents it is imperative to have a complete clinical evaluation and an immediate medical care.