INS and Insulin resistance: The MAFLD cohort demonstrated particularly severe metabolic derangements: substantially higher adiposity measures (BMI 31.49 ± 6.63 vs 21.70 ± 4.18 kg/m2, WC 100.24 ± 14.96 vs 76.13 ± 9.71 cm; both p < 0.001), worse insulin resistance (HOMA-IR 5.44 ± 3.59 vs 2.48 ± 1.44, fasting insulin 22.01 ± 13.99 vs 10.28 ± 5.71 mU/L; both p < 0.001), and more pronounced hepatic injury (ALT 21.85 ± 13.04 vs 14.36 ± 7.40 U/L, GGT 17.88 ± 9.94 vs 13.06 ± 5.79 U/L; both p < 0.001).