The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the nature of the association between TNF 238 G/A polymorphism and the risk for T2D. We searched databases updated on January 2009 for all publications on the association between this variation and T2D. Data on genotypes and the numbers of cases and controls were assessed using Review Manager 4.2. Meta-analysis of the overall and specific populations was conducted, and odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated in the fixed-effect model. I(2) statistic was calculated to examine heterogeneity, and publication bias was evaluated by Egger test. The overall OR (95% CI) for AA and GA genotypes versus GG genotype for TNF-alpha-238 was 1.15 (0.92-1.44), which in European and Asian populations were 1.18 (0.92-1.51) and 1.13 (0.62-2.04), respectively. This first meta-analysis of data from the current and published studies did not detect any association between the polymorphism of TNF 238 G/A and risk for T2D.