RETN and atherosclerosis: ↓ Serum TG, TC, HDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol and non-esterified fatty acid levels – Serum HDL-C, TG, liver enzymes, insulin, glucose, TNF-α, IL-1β, adiponectin, and resistin ↓ Inflammatory markers in the serum, liver, adipose and aorta ↓ Atherosclerosis development in both the thoracic aorta and the aortic root ↑ Relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Bifidobacterium, and ↓ Firmicutes in cecal feces