The extent to which fetuin-A and fetuin-B affect non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) still needs to be understood.

The current study attempted to synthesize previous findings and arrive at a reliable estimation of this relationship. Investigators identified studies published not later than March 2019 that assessed the relationship between fetuin-A, fetuin-B, and NAFLD. A systematic search was conducted in the electronic databases of the Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Pooled estimates of standardized mean difference (SMD), calculated with the help of the random-effects model in a meta-analysis, helped determine the strength of the association between fetuin-A, fetuin-B, and NAFLD.

Thirty publications were analyzed on the basis of specified inclusion criteria. The analysis involved 3800 NAFLD patients and 3614 controls.

NAFLD patients had significantly higher values of fetuin-A and fetuin-B in comparison with controls. A subgroup analysis revealed that the effect value of fetuin-A in the NASH group was significantly higher compared to the NAFL group.

Increased fetuin-A and fetuin-B levels thus seem to independently indicate the occurrence of NAFLD.

Source: Pan X, Kaminga AC, Chen J, et al. Fetuin-A and Fetuin-B in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Apr 15;17(8).