Our main analysis utilizing the GNRI (k = 8; n = 1454 with malnutrition and n = 1919 without malnutrition) showed that malnutrition was associated with significantly higher levels of BNP [MD: 204.99, 95% CI (101.02–308.96, I2 = 88%, P < 0.01) (Figure2)]. This evidence concerns the gene NPPB and nutritional deficiency disease.