Table 6.

Results from the mediation analysis (N = 336, X-set = 21, Y-set = 285): natural indirect effect (NIE) and 95%CI^a

Modelb				Natural indirect effect (NIE)
Exposure (A)	Mediator (M)	Outcome	A*M interaction term	Estimate (95%CI)	P value
X1 score	Y1 score	HCC	No	0.91 (0.77, 1.06)	0.23
X2 score	Y2 score	HCC	No	1.11 (0.97, 1.25)	0.12
X3 score	Y3 score	HCC	No	1.08 (0.94, 1.23)	0.28
X1 score	Y1 score	HCC	Yes	0.96 (0.79, 1.17)	0.70
X2 score	Y2 score	HCC	Yes	1.15 (1.01, 1.31)	0.04
X3 score	Y3 score	HCC	Yes	1.13 (1.01, 1.28)	0.04

^aThe standard errors used to compute the 95% CI were obtained using the delta method.

^bModels were adjusted for the C-reactive protein concentration, alpha-fetoprotein concentration and a composite score for liver damage, as well as for the other Y-scores, as potential mediator outcome confounders. Additionally, the outcome and the mediator models were adjusted for centre and age at blood collection.