CRP and hepatocellular carcinoma: CRP was identified as the mediator of the causal effect of ALM and low-HGS on HCC, with corresponding mediating effects of 9.1% and 7.4%.<h4>Conclusions</h4>This MR study effectively demonstrates that lower ALM and low-HGS are linked to an elevated risk of HCC within the European population, and the causality was not bidirectional.