Circulating retinol binding protein 4 levels in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#case-control-studies #gene-expression #humans #non-alcoholic-fatty-liver-disease #retinol-binding-proteins-plasma

Circulating retinol binding protein 4 levels in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Zhou et al., 2017 | Lipids Health Dis | Meta Analysis

Citation

Zhou Zhongwei, Chen Hongmei, ... Sun Mingzhong. Circulating retinol binding protein 4 levels in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lipids Health Dis. 2017-Sep-20;16(1):180. doi:10.1186/s12944-017-0566-7

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) is implicated in obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus that are closely associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, recent investigations regarding circulating RBP4 levels in NAFLD are conflicting. This meta-analysis is to determine whether NAFLD, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and simple steatosis (SS) patients have altered RBP4 levels. METHODS: We performed a systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library up until 18 March 2017, and 12 studies comprising a total of 4247 participants (2271 NAFLD patients and 1976 controls) were included in the meta-analysis. RESULTS: There were no significant differences of circulating RBP4 levels in the following comparisons: (1) NAFLD patients vs controls (standardized mean differences [SMD]: 0.08; 95% CI: -0.21, 0.38); (2) NASH patients vs controls (SMD: -0.49; 95% CI: -1.09, 0.12); (3) SS patients vs controls (SMD: -0.72; 95% CI: -1.64, 0.20) and (4) NASH vs SS patients (SMD: -0.04; 95% CI: -0.32, 0.24). The results remained essentially unchanged in the comparisons between NAFLD patients and controls after excluding single individual study or bariatric studies (n = 2). No significant publication bias was detected. However, there was significant heterogeneity among studies and the subgroup and meta-regression analyses did not find the potential sources. CONCLUSIONS: Circulating RBP4 levels may not be associated with NAFLD. Further prospective cohort studies are required to confirm these findings.

Key Findings

There were no significant differences of circulating RBP4 levels in the following comparisons: (1) NAFLD patients vs controls (standardized mean differences [SMD]: 0.08; 95% CI: -0.21, 0.38); (2) NASH patients vs controls (SMD: -0.49; 95% CI: -1.09, 0.12); (3) SS patients vs controls (SMD: -0.72; 95% CI: -1.64, 0.20) and (4) NASH vs SS patients (SMD: -0.04; 95% CI: -0.32, 0.24). The results remained essentially unchanged in the comparisons between NAFLD patients and controls after excluding sing

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 2
Age Range See abstract
Condition diabetes

MeSH Terms

  • Case-Control Studies
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma
  • Severity of Illness Index

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: vitamin-a

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09