Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) is a carrier protein that transports retinol (preformed vitamin A) in the blood from the liver to other tissues.[1] Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (variants) in the gene that codes for the RBP4 protein appear to be associated with retinol concentrations in the blood[2] and the risk of some conditions, including childhood obesity,[3] coronary artery disease,[4] insulin resistance,[5] gestational diabetes,[6] and type 2 diabetes.[7][8][9] The concentration of RBP4 protein in the blood has also been shown to be associated with the risk of gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes.[10][11][12][13] However, while experiments using genetic mouse models support some of these associations,[1][14] further clinical studies are needed to fully understand whether RBP4 plays a causal role in human disease.
What is retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4)?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) is a carrier protein that transports retinol from the liver to other tissues and is associated with various health conditions, including childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes. Although genetic variants in the RBP4 gene and its blood concentration are associated with these conditions, further clinical studies are necessary to determine its causal role in human disease.