OBJECTIVETo investigate adipokines levels in obese children with acanthosis nigricans (AN) and to explore the relationship between AN and metabolic syndrome (MS).

METHODSA cross-sectional study was performed on 109 obese children and 47 age- and gender-matched normal controls. The obese children were divided into two groups with AN and without AN. Serum levels of adiponectin, leptin, TNF-α and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) were measured using ELISA. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the association of clinical parameters with MS.

RESULTSWaist-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, fasting insulin and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were significantly higher in obese children with AN than in those without AN and normal controls (P<0.05). The obese children with AN and without AN had lower adiponectin levels than normal controls (P<0.05), on the contrary, the obese children with AN had higher leptin levels than those without AN and normal controls (P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that AN (OR=3.469, 95%CI: 1.518-7.929) and BMI (OR=7.108, 95%CI: 2.359-21.416) were independent risk factors for MS.

CONCLUSIONSAs a visible marker of insulin resistance, AN is associated with abnormal adipokines secretion. Reducing the incidence of AN and losing weight may prevent obesity associated MS.