The inverse association between adiponectin and MAFLD (the highest tertile vs. the lowest tertile) was the strongest when T2DM was used as the diagnostic criterion alone (Figure 4A), and the positive association between adipsin and MAFLD (the highest tertile vs. the lowest tertile) was the strongest when BMI was used as the diagnostic criterion alone (Figure 4B). Here, ADIPOQ is linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus.