M-Cili-R was superior to M-Cili-F in increasing the transcription levels of Cpt1b, Apoa2, Apoc1, and Ugt1a6 in T2DM rats, indicating that RCJ was more effective than fermented juice in promoting lipid consumption and cholesterol efflux and regulating bile acid metabolism in T2DM-associated NAFLD rats. Here, APOA2 is linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.