Increased plasma osteopontin levels are associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

•Osteopontin is increased in NAFLD patients with T2DM.•The relative risks for NAFLD in T2DM patients increases with increasing osteopontin quartiles.•Osteopontin is an optimal predictor for use in the diagnosis of T2DM with NAFLD.•Osteopontin may contribute to the aggravation of the metabolic state.