Stratification by albumin levels of HCC patients showed HCC group had significantly higher AdipoQ levels than CFC group in “≥ 3.5 g/dl” (SMD = 0.24, 95% CI (0.09,0.40), P = 0.002), but not in the “< 3.5 g/dl” (SMD = 0.62, 95% CI (− 1.98, 3.22), P = 0.639). Here, ALB is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.