The Association Between Circulating Fetuin-A Levels and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Risk: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies Publisher Pubmed

Summary: A meta-analysis of studies suggests higher fetuin-A blood levels link to greater type 2 diabetes risk. This protein from the liver could serve as a screening tool or treatment target, but more research is needed. #Diabetes #Biomarkers

Roshanzamir F^{1, 2, 3} ; Miraghajani M⁴ ; Rouhani MH^{2, 5} ; Mansourian M⁶ ; Ghiasvand R^{2, 5} ; Safavi SM^{2, 3}
Source: Journal of Endocrinological Investigation Published:2018

Abstract

Background and objective: Fetuin-A is a liver-derived circulating protein that is associated with insulin resistance and diabetes. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis of published observational studies was to investigate mean levels of fetuin-A in T2D patients and the relationship between blood fetuin-A levels and T2D risk. Materials and methods: PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library were systematically searched for potential relevant studies up to 1 December 2016. Natural logarithm-transformed estimate risks, standard mean differences on the basis of Hedges’s adjusted g, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for all eligible studies and were combined to measure the pooled data using random-effects model. Results: A total of 32 studies including 27 case–control and 5 cohort studies were included in the current study. Fetuin-A levels in T2D patients were significantly higher than control groups [Hedges’ g = 1.73, 95% CI (1.25–2.22), P < 0.001], with significant heterogeneity across studies (P < 0.001, I2 = 98.46%). Findings from meta-analyses of cohort studies showed a statistically significant association between fetuin-A levels and T2D risk [rate ratio = 1.62, 95% CI (1.26–2.08), P < 0.001], with no significant heterogeneity (P = 0.10, I2 = 46.06%). Conclusion: We found a significant relationship between the fetuin-A levels with T2D risk. Although fetuin-A may be as a potential screening and prediction biomarker or a therapeutic target in T2D patients, further studies are required in this regard. © 2017, Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE).