With adjustments for age, sex, BMI, regular smoking, regular alcohol intake, treatment for hypertension, systolic, diastolic or mean arterial blood pressure, the presence of diabetes mellitus or an HbA1c > 6.5%, circulating resistin concentrations were independently associated with eGFR (partial r = − 0.20, p < 0.0001). This evidence concerns the gene RETN and diabetes mellitus.