Among the 159 nondrinkers, the logistic regression models showed that the longitudinal risk of NAFLD also increased in the ALDH2*2 allele carriers (odds ratio: 4.52, 95% CI: 1.45–14.08) and in those with a GGT level of ⩾25.5 IUl−1 (odds ratio: 6.25, 95% CI: 1.58–24.69). The gene discussed is ALDH2; the disease is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.