Metabolic and bariatric surgery significantly reduces plasma Fetuin-A levels in patients with obesity

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The American surgeon Published June 3, 2026 Medically reviewed June 3, 2026 Study authors: Zhu Chenglou, Liu Wenhan PubMed ↗ DOI ↗ By Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

Key Takeaway

Note that metabolic and bariatric surgery reduces plasma Fetuin-A levels in patients with obesity.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the impact of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) on plasma Fetuin-A expression in patients with obesity. The study included n = 298 participants and compared post-surgery levels to pre-surgery levels. No specific setting was reported for these patients.

The primary outcome showed a significant reduction in plasma Fetuin-A levels following the procedure. The standardized mean difference was -0.43 with a 95% CI of -0.73 to -0.14 and a p-value less than .05. Secondary outcomes included body mass index and glucose levels, which also demonstrated significant decreases with standardized mean differences of -1.74 and -0.94 respectively.

The authors acknowledge that causal mechanisms cannot be established from the available evidence. Adverse events, discontinuations, and tolerability were not reported in the source data. The follow-up duration was not reported. These limitations suggest that while the associations are statistically significant, the biological drivers remain unclear.

Study Details

Study typeMeta analysis

Sample sizen = 298

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedJun 2026

PMID41381036

View Original Abstract ↓

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) on plasma Fetuin-A expression, body mass index (BMI), and glucose levels in patients with obesity.MethodsA systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of science, and Embase following the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 5 studies (n = 298 participants) were included, reporting pre- and post-surgery plasma Fetuin-A levels, BMI, and glucose levels. Two independent reviewers extracted data, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer. Pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for each outcome. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I statistic.ResultsThe pooled results revealed a significant reduction in plasma Fetuin-A levels post-surgery (SMD = -0.43, 95% CI = -0.73 to -0.14, < .05, I = 60.7%). BMI also decreased significantly following MBS (SMD = -1.74, 95% CI = -2.28 to -1.19, < .05, I = 84.2%). Additionally, glucose levels showed a marked reduction post-surgery (SMD = -0.94, 95% CI = -1.12 to -0.76, < .05, I = 16.2%).ConclusionMBS is associated with significant reductions in plasma Fetuin-A levels, BMI, and glucose levels. These findings indicate that changes in Fetuin-A may accompany the metabolic improvements observed after MBS, although causal mechanisms cannot be established from the available evidence.