ArticleTranslational gastroenterology and hepatology2026
Association between monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and hepatic steatosis: evidence from NHANES 2017-2020.
Article in Translational gastroenterology and hepatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Sex-Specific Associations of Monocyte-Based Inflammatory Indices with Renal Dysfunction and Hyperuricemia in the Saudi General Adult Population.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Clinical Utility of the Triglyceride-Glucose Index in Assessing Hepatic Steatosis Severity Within the MASLD Spectrum.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Peripheral blood inflammatory indices across thyroid functional states in Graves' disease: associations with liver biochemical abnormalities and hyperthyroid relapse.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026Article
- Association of SPISE with prevalent and incident MASLD: a two-stage population-based study and development of a risk prediction model.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
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12 authors.
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Abstract
Background: The monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), an emerging inflammatory immune indicator, has an unclear association with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between MLR and MASLD in the U.S. population and further explore its association with hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 6,801 participants in the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Multivariable logistic regression and multivariable linear regression were used to assess the associations of MLR levels with MASLD, hepatic steatosis [controlled attenuation parameter (CAP)], and liver fibrosis. Smooth curve fitting, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, and threshold effect analysis were used to explore the relationship between MLR and MASLD. Subgroup analyses and interaction tests were conducted by sex, body mass index (BMI), race/ethnicity, and smoking status. Results: A total of 6,801 participants (mean age 48.61 years) were included in the analysis. After full adjustment for confounders, Ln(MLR) was significantly positively associated with MASLD risk [odds ratio (OR) =2.58, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.99-3.35, P<0.001]. Ln(MLR) was also significantly positively associated with CAP, showing a clear dose-response trend; the RCS curve suggested a stronger association at higher Ln(MLR) levels. In contrast, linear and nonlinear analyses revealed no significant relationship between Ln(MLR) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM). Subgroup analyses showed that the association remained consistent across sex, race/ethnicity, BMI categories, and smoking status, with the strongest effect observed in non-Hispanic Black participants. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that MLR is significantly associated with MASLD and hepatic steatosis risk, suggesting its potential utility in reflecting early steatosis and inflammatory status of the disease. The findings support the value of MLR as a potential inflammatory biomarker for MASLD. However, longitudinal studies are needed to further validate its predictive capability.
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