CRP and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Patients with NAFLD exhibit systemic low-grade inflammation, and a meta-analysis by Duan et al indicated that elevated inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) are significantly associated with NAFLD development.[11] CRP is a classic nonspecific acute-phase protein produced by the liver and an indicator of systemic inflammation.[12] IR is the core element of metabolic syndrome.