However, rs641738 is not likely the causal variant underpinning susceptibility to NAFLD and HCC, as we observed that it is in strong linkage with other polymorphisms in 3′-UTR of MBOAT7, which may be more closely related to the phenotype and are potentially involved in the regulation of MBOAT7 mRNA stability. Here, MBOAT7 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.