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Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Real-time Analyses of Retinol Transport by the Membrane Receptor of Plasma Retinol Binding Protein
Published on: January 28, 2013
Circulating retinol-binding protein 4 and metabolic syndrome in the elderly
Nazanin Mostafaie1, Christian Sebesta, Sonja Zehetmayer
1Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Sozialmedizinisches Zentrum Ost, Danube Hospital, Vienna, Austria. nazanin.sedille-mostafaie@wienkav.at
Background:
Retinol-binding protein (RBP) 4, a human adipokine that specifically binds to retinol, has been reported to provide a link between obesity and insulin resistance. Plasma RBP4 concentration may be under the influence of age and obesity, but only a few studies has investigated this link in elderly individuals. Consequently, we tested the correlation between RBP4 concentrations and type 2 diabetes/metabolic syndrome (MetS) components in a large population based cohort study (VITA) of elderly [1, 2]. Using a single birth cohort, this investigation could exclude the influence of age.
Methods:
We evaluated the correlation of RBP4 with type 2 diabetes and MetS components including Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure, lipid parameters, fasting glucose insulin, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and smoking in exclusively 75-76 year old participants (N = 232).
Results:
In the present study, RBP4 concentrations were associated with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome (MetS) components. Of all the individual components of metabolic syndrome that were associated with RBP4 concentrations, the correlations of RBP4 with serum triglycerides and a negative correlation with HDL were the strongest ones observed in our study cohort (p<0.0001).
Conclusions:
RBP4 plays a role in biological mechanisms that are responsible for insulin resistance and development of type 2 diabetes.
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