Acanthosis nigricans among Northern Plains American Indian children

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Endocrinology
• Public Health

Background:

• Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a skin condition often associated with insulin resistance and increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
• American Indian children, particularly those on the Northern Plains, face a disproportionately high burden of type 2 diabetes and associated risk factors.
• Identifying early markers of insulin resistance in this population is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of acanthosis nigricans (AN) in Northern Plains American Indian children.
• To examine the association between AN and key diabetes risk factors, including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), physical activity, and family history of diabetes.
• To assess the predictive value of AN for incident obesity and diabetes risk in this population.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional and prospective data collection from 2,520 K-12th-grade American Indian students.
• Standardized measurements of AN, BMI, and BP.
• Data collection on family history of diabetes and physical activity levels, including sports participation.

Main Results:

• Approximately 9.7% of participants exhibited acanthosis nigricans (AN).
• AN prevalence was significantly associated with higher BMI, abnormal blood pressure (BP), and a positive family history of diabetes.
• Increased sports participation showed an inverse relationship with AN.
• Children with AN had a 9.8-fold increased relative risk for obesity and incident AN compared to normal-weight children.

Conclusions:

• Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a prevalent marker of insulin resistance in Northern Plains American Indian children.
• The presence of AN, alongside high BMI, abnormal BP, and family diabetes history, identifies a high-risk group for type 2 diabetes.
• Routine screening for AN in this pediatric population may aid in early identification and intervention for diabetes prevention.