ArticleIndian journal of dermatology
Effectiveness and Safety of Metformin versus Canthex™ in Patients with Acanthosis Nigricans: A Randomized, Double-blind Controlled Trial.
Article in Indian journal of dermatology. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 15 citations in OpenAlex.
- The efficacy of topical treatments for acanthosis nigricans: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Pooled it
- Clinical and Dermoscopic Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Metformin versus Pioglitazone in Acanthosis Nigricans: A Randomised Controlled Trial.Indian dermatology online journal · 2026Article
- Article
- Metformin: Old Drug, New Therapeutic Potential in the Skin? A Brief Narrative Review.Advances in therapy · 2025Review
- Metabolic syndrome and dermatological diseases: association and treatment.Nutrition & metabolism · 2025Review
- Acanthosis Nigricans: Pointer of Endocrine Entities.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Review of facial acanthosis nigricans: Easy to diagnose and difficult to treat marker of hyperinsulinemia/metabolic syndrome.Medical journal, Armed Forces IndiaReview
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAcanthosis nigricans has been associated with conditions of insulin resistance such as obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Metformin and alpha-lipoic acid, two types of insulin-sensitizing agents, have been demonstrated to reduce insulin levels and improve insulin sensitivity. Alpha-lipoic acid is available as a fixed-dose combination with biotin, calcium pantothenate, and zinc sulfate as Canthex™.
aimsThis study aimed to compare the effectiveness, safety, and improvement of the insulin resistance profile of Canthex™ and metformin in acanthosis nigricans. MATERIALS AND
methodsIn this double-blind, randomized (1:1), active-controlled trial (CTRI/2017/02/007880), participants received either metformin 500 mg BD or Canthex™ BD for 12 weeks. Effectiveness parameters were improvement of severity of neck lesions and neck texture. Serum fasting insulin level, glucose, lipids, body weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were also assessed at baseline and at the end of the study. Adverse effects and changes in routine laboratory parameters were taken as safety parameters.
resultsThirty-three patients were analyzed by modified-intention-to-treat criteria. Severity of neck lesions and texture were comparable at baseline and it showed significant reduction (
conclusionCanthex™ is as effective and safe as metformin in the management of acanthosis nigricans and associated features of insulin resistance.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.