In the IVW analysis, there is insufficient evidence to substantiate a causal connection between C-reactive protein levels (P = 0.169, OR = 1.0002, 95% CI 0.9999–1.0004), adiponectin (P = 0.374, OR = 1.0003, 95% CI 0.9996–1.0011), circulating leptin levels (P = 0.740, OR = 0.9997, 95% CI 0.9979–1.0015), severe insulin-resistant type 2 diabetes (P = 0.807, OR = 1.0000, 95% CI 0.9999–1.0002), and the development of HCC, possibly attributable to limited statistical power (Fig. 4A). Here, LEP is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.