In comparison to control group, NAFLD group had higher plasma level of CTRP1 (p<0.0001), T2DM group showed higher plasma level of CTRP1 than NAFLD group (p<0.0001) and the difference (p<0.0001) in CTRP1 level between NAFLD+T2DM group and healthy controls was even greater compared to the two latter groups (fold change increase in NAFLD+T2DM = 1.48, fold change increase in NAFLD = 1.205; Fig. 1a). Here, C1QTNF1 is linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus.