Title: Targeted metabolomics reveals plasma short-chain fatty acids are associated with
metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Version: 0 Date: 24 Nov 2023
Reviewer's report:
The work conducted by Thing et. al. sought to investigate the role of short chain fatty acids
(SCFA), gut microbiota-derived metabolites, in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver
disease (MASLD). While the novelty of the study is not adequately justified, however, it is
particularly interesting to understand the role of SCFA in MASLD based on the study of the
disease at different stages of progression.
Minor concerns
1. In the introduction section, be sure to describe the different fibrosis stages (F0-F4) as this
information are missing in the manuscript.
2. The authors are advised to include the full quality control assessment measures in the
supplementary.
3. In the abstract, the technique is gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.  You omitted
the "gas", please spell this out.
4. Again, in the abstract, how did the authors arrive at a total of 100 patients with MASLD   from
the 51 with type 2 diabetes, 51 with mild/no fibrosis and 49 significant fibrosis. This is confusing
and needs to be properly clarified.
5. In the later part of the introduction section, the authors mentioned lower SCFAs levels in
MASLD cirrhosis and higher levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis. The
authors need to properly summarize the literature to avoid the contradictory reporting in the case
of Cirrhosis.
Title: Targeted metabolomics reveals plasma short-chain fatty acids are associated with
metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Version: 0 Date: 24 Nov 2023
Reviewer's report:
The work conducted by Thing et. al. sought to investigate the role of short chain fatty acids
(SCFA), gut microbiota-derived metabolites, in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver
disease (MASLD). While the novelty of the study is not adequately justified, however, it is
particularly interesting to understand the role of SCFA in MASLD based on the study of the
disease at different stages of progression.
Minor concerns
1. In the introduction section, be sure to describe the different fibrosis stages (F0-F4) as this
information are missing in the manuscript.
2. The authors are advised to include the full quality control assessment measures in the
supplementary.
3. In the abstract, the technique is gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.  You omitted
the "gas", please spell this out.
4. Again, in the abstract, how did the authors arrive at a total of 100 patients with MASLD   from
the 51 with type 2 diabetes, 51 with mild/no fibrosis and 49 significant fibrosis. This is confusing
and needs to be properly clarified.
5. In the later part of the introduction section, the authors mentioned lower SCFAs levels in
MASLD cirrhosis and higher levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis. The
authors need to properly summarize the literature to avoid the contradictory reporting in the case
of Cirrhosis.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Targeted metabolomics reveals plasma short-chain fatty acids are associated with
metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Version: 0 Date: 24 Nov 2023
Reviewer's report:
The work conducted by Thing et. al. sought to investigate the role of short chain fatty acids
(SCFA), gut microbiota-derived metabolites, in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver
disease (MASLD). While the novelty of the study is not adequately justified, however, it is
particularly interesting to understand the role of SCFA in MASLD based on the study of the
disease at different stages of progression.
Minor concerns
1. In the introduction section, be sure to describe the different fibrosis stages (F0-F4) as this
information are missing in the manuscript.
2. The authors are advised to include the full quality control assessment measures in the
supplementary.
3. In the abstract, the technique is gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.  You omitted
the "gas", please spell this out.
4. Again, in the abstract, how did the authors arrive at a total of 100 patients with MASLD   from
the 51 with type 2 diabetes, 51 with mild/no fibrosis and 49 significant fibrosis. This is confusing
and needs to be properly clarified.
5. In the later part of the introduction section, the authors mentioned lower SCFAs levels in
MASLD cirrhosis and higher levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhosis. The
authors need to properly summarize the literature to avoid the contradictory reporting in the case
of Cirrhosis.
assistant