Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has become a prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide because of lifestyle and dietary changes. The gut microbiota and its metabolites have been shown to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of MAFLD. Understanding of the function of the gut microbiota and its metabolites in MAFLD may help to elucidate pathological mechanisms, identify diagnostic markers, and develop drugs or probiotics for the treatment of MAFLD. Here we review the pathogenesis of MAFLD by gut microbiota and its metabolites and discuss the feasi...