Fasting serum glucagon-like peptide-1 concentrations in obese patients with acanthosis nigricans: a pilot study

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the fasting serum GLP-1 concentrations in Chinese obesity associated with Acanthosis nigricans (AN). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 61 subjects who were divided into two groups: 27 obese patients with AN (AN group) and 34 obese patients without AN (OB group). Data regarding weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), visceral fat fraction, lipid profile, and uric acid (UA) were determined and collected for each patient. 75 g glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were performed and insulin levels during OGTT were measured in all subjects. Homeostatic model assessmentinsulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated to estimate insulin resistance. Body composition was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Fasting serum total GLP-1 concentrations were measured. Results: 1) Weight, WC, HC, UA, and HOMA-IR were significantly higher in the AN group than the OB group (P < 0.05). However, the level of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly lower in the AN group than the OB group (P < 0.05). 2) The level of serum GLP-1 in the AN group was the significantly higher than the OB group (P < 0.05). 3) The level of GLP-1 was significantly positively associated with LDL in AN group (P < 0.05). The level of GLP-1 was significantly positively associated with TC in AN group (P < 0.05). The level of GLP-1 was positively associated with plasma insulin measured at 30 min after OGTT, total cholesterol, and LDL-C in all patients with obesity (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Patients with obesity associated AN had severe insulin resistance accompanied with increased total fasting GLP-1 concentrations in comparison with simply obesity.