Quote from Dr. Garrett Smith on November 7, 2018, 3:36 pm

To help with understanding the following:

• A higher RBP4 (Retinol Binding Protein-4) means that serum retinol levels (aka blood levels of Poison/"Vitamin A") are higher.  See the Rules thread for more on this.  RBP was never a problem and never will be, it is the body's protective shield against Poison/"Vitamin A" and helps with the detox process.
• I will have a separate thread on how Poison/"Vitamin A" has been shown to increase estrogen levels through activating the aromatase enzyme.
• I will have a separate thread about the connection between Poison/"Vitamin A" and diabetes and insulin resistance.
• I already have a thread on how Poison/"Vitamin A" lowers progesterone.
• I already have a thread on how Poison/"Vitamin A" damages the testes/testicles, where testosterone is made.
• Put all this evidence together before you look at the results of the below study in Egyptian men.

Estradiol Testosterone Ratio, Serum Retinol Binding Protein 4 and Insulin Resistance in Overweight and Obese Egyptian Men

Overweight and obesity are the leading causes for the development of multiple adverse metabolic effects. Retinol Binding Protein 4 (RBP4), a peptide secreted from adipocytes and hepatocytes, provides a new link between obesity and insulin resistance. The objective of this work is to determine RBP4 serum levels and evaluate its relationship with serum testosterone (T), serum estradiol (E2), E2/T ratio and insulin resistance in overweight and obese Egyptian men. The study included 65 men which were subdivided into (20 normal weight, 20overweight and 25 obese). Their mean age was (43.88±5.52). Serum RBP4 was measured by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Serum RBP4 and E2/T ratio were significantly higher, while serum T was significantly lower in overweight and obese groups as compared with normal weight group. In all subjects, serum RBP4 correlated positively with BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), HOMA-IR, serum E2 and E2/T ratio. In contrast, it correlated negatively with quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and serum T. In multiple linear regression analysis serum RBP4 was independently associated with E2/T ratio. It could be concluded that serum RBP4 is elevated in overweight and obese as compared with normal weight subjects, and that the disturbance in E2/T ratio seem to affect RBP4 serum levels and insulin sensitivity in obese men.

I may have just had another HUGE realization through this study.  IF adipocytes (fat cells) make RBP...and RBP is the body's main defensive mechanism against Poison/"Vitamin A"...if the liver is overloaded with Poison/"Vitamin A" and is having difficulty making RBP to defend the rest of the body...a possible "next level" defense would be to increase the fat tissue of the body to make more RBP!

In conclusion, what this study is correlating:

• Higher RBP4 levels, which imply and are a surrogate for higher retinol levels, are associated with:
  • Higher Body Mass Index (BMI), aka higher bodyweight relative to their height, aka fatter men
  • Higher waist circumference, aka a fatter midsection
  • Lower testosterone levels
  • Higher estrogen levels
  • Higher levels of estrogen relative to the lower testosterone levels (the higher E2/T ratio mentioned)
  • Higher HOMA-IR, aka increased insulin resistance (diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance are all intimately linked)and blood sugar stability problems
    • "Low HOMA-IR values indicate high insulin sensitivity, whereas high HOMA-IR values indicate low insulin sensitivity (insulin resistance)."

If this study's results aren't a wake-up call for all you men out there who are getting fatter, watching their estrogen levels rise, their testosterone levels fall, and diabetes creeping ever closer in their bloodwork, I don't know what else anyone would need to see.