Table 6 Meta regression analysis for finding the possible sources of heterogeneity for the association between sRAGEs and BMI

Estimate of between-study variance

1.0839

By region (Japan versus others)

-3.968534

0.293

-13.08245 5.145382

By sample size (> 300 versus others)

1.449087

0.634

-6.359169 9.257342

By study quality (high versus others)

-2.712364

0.133

-6.603796 1.179068

By gender (both versus others)

1.075548

0.733

-7.074379 9.225475

By age (< 80 versus others)

1.449

0.634

-6.359169 9.257342

By baseline BMI (< 23 versus others)

-3.968534

0.293

-13.08245 5.145382

By sRAGEs type (sRAGE versus esRAGE)

2.030782

0.513

-5.830596 9.892159