In lean groups, subjects with NAFLD were older, more central obesity, and had higher total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c, fasting plasma glucose, 2 h plasma glucose, fasting serum insulin, HOMAIR, CRP, and liver enzymes and had lower adiponectin, HDL-c and eGFR (all P < 0.01). This evidence concerns the gene ADIPOQ and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.