Stratification by ALT levels of HCC patients showed no significant difference in the HCC group and CFC group in both “< 70 U/L” (SMD = 0.00, 95% CI (− 0.53, 0.53), P = 0.992) and “≥ 70 U/L” (SMD = 0.08, 95% CI (− 2.96, 3.12), P = 0.958). Here, GPT is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.