Plasma Citrulline Levels in Patients with Celiac Disease: A Meta-analysis of Case-control Studies

Celiac disease is an immune-mediated enteropathy that a few researchers have focused on the levels of some amino acids in celiac disease. Herein, we evaluated of plasma citrulline levels in patients with celiac disease in case-control studies in the meta-analysis study. Four databases of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched on Feb 2018 without restriction of language and type of study. All studies were searched for evaluation of plasma citrulline levels in the patients with celiac disease compared with the healthy controls. Out of 101 records found in four databases, 6 studies were included and analyzed for the meta-analysis study. The citrulline level in the patients was significantly lower than the controls [MD= -10.18 mu mol/l; 95% CI -17.86, -2.44; P=0.009]. Measurement of plasma citrulline levels can be as a diagnostic marker of celiac disease and also for the evaluation of the initial response to a GFD. It needs to more studies in the future with controlling age, sex, and other connected diseases.