The ANGPTL8 level was significantly higher in the NAFLD group than in the healthy control group, whose SMD was 0.97 (95%CI: 0.77, 1.18); conversely, there was no significant difference in the ANGPTL 4 (SMD = 0.11, 95%CI: − 0.32, 0.54) and ANGPTL3 levels (SMD = − 0.95, 95%CI: − 4.38, 2.48) between the two groups. Here, ANGPTL3 is linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.