Background and Aim: Angiogenic growth factors (AGF) play a crucial role in regulating hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell homing and differentiation. Patients with NAFLD and CAD have lower levels of AGF (Elsheikh et al. DDW 2014). Thus, in this study we investigated the level and functions of circulating progenitor cells (CPC) in patients with NAFLD and CAD. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 82 patients undergoing elective coronary angiography. Each patient had fasting serum, clinical data and abdominal ultrasound (US). All US were read centrally using a standard protocol. NAFLD was defined as radiologic fatty liver in the absence of other causes of liver disease and excessive alcohol use. Patients were divided into NAFLD with CAD (n=24), NAFLD without CAD (n=13), only CAD (n= 31) and Non-NAFLD and Non-CAD (n=14). Circulating progenitor cells (CPC) were quantified by flow cytometry based on the expression of (CD34+, CD133+, CD34+ CD133+) in presence or absence of the hematopoietic marker (CD45). To study the functional capacity of CPC, colony-forming unit (CFU) assay was used. These include erythroid progenitors (burst-forming unit erythroid (BFU-E)); granulocyte/macrophage progenitors (CFU-granulocyte, macrophage (CFU-GM); and multi-potential progenitors (CFU-granulocyte, erythroid, macrophage, megakaryocyte (CFU-GEMM)). Results: The levels of the CD45-CD34+, CD45CD133+ and BFU-E were higher in NAFLD patients with CAD (median, 15%, 2% and 60 colonies, respectively) than NAFLD patients without CAD (median, 9%, 1% and 37 colonies , respectively, all p-values≤0.05). We also found that the levels of the CD45-CD133+ were higher in NAFLD patients with CAD (median, 15%) than patients with only CAD (median, 11%, p 25th quartile of CD45-CD34+, CD45-CD133+ and total CFU levels had the highest risk for CAD [OR: 7.00 (1.34-36.68), 5.00 (1.07-23.46) and 7.00 (1.10-44.61) respectively]. After age adjustment, only CD45-CD34+ circulating progenitor cells remain associated with increased risk of CAD in patients with NAFLD [OR: 8.71 (1.21-62.51)]. Conclusions: Our results indicate that, levels of circulating progenitor cells CD45-CD34+ may be associated with increased risk of CAD in NAFLD patients. Increased circulating progenitor cells levels could be due to the low levels of AGF leading to impaired homing and differentiation capacity.