ALB and hepatocellular carcinoma: In contrast, the Cu/Zn ratio was associated with HCC progression and impaired liver function, i.e., BCLC stage (p = 0.011), Alb (p = 0.016), AST (p = 0.040), ALT (p = 0.011), ALP (p = 0.006), Child-Pugh score (p = 0.022), and CONUT score (p = 0.034) (Fig 2H–2N).