IL6 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Although unexpected, our findings are not surprising in light of prior research in which non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which affects much of the obese adult population, was associated with high and chronic levels of circulating IL-6 (Bastard et al., 2000; Glund and Krook, 2008; Kern et al., 2001; Mohamed-Ali et al., 1997).