After eating a high-fat diet for 8 weeks, male and female mice without FFAR4 had smaller artery plaques in the aortic sinus, but not in the aortic arch — suggesting FFAR4 might affect early plaque growth differently.

Scientific Claim

In ApoE−/− mice fed a Western diet for 8 weeks, FFAR4 deficiency is associated with a 33% reduction in aortic sinus lesion area in males and a 22% reduction in females, with no change in aortic arch lesion area.

Original Statement

“Following 8 weeks of Western diet feeding, lesions from ApoE−/−/Ffar4−/− male and female mice had 33% and 22% decreases, respectively, in the aortic sinus lesion area with no changes in the aortic arch lesion area.”

From study:FFAR4 Deficiency Increases Necrotic Cores in Advanced Lesions of ApoE−/− Mice—Brief Report

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

overstated

Study Design Support

Design cannot support claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

Based on abstract only - full methodology not available to verify. The study design cannot establish causation. 'Reduces' implies causation; 'is associated with' is the correct verb strength.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

FFAR4 Deficiency Increases Necrotic Cores in Advanced Lesions of ApoE−/− Mice—Brief Report

Cohort Study

Animal

2025 May

After 8 weeks on a high-fat diet, mice without FFAR4 had smaller fatty deposits in their heart arteries (but not in the main aorta), which matches the claim exactly.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

FFAR4 Deficiency Increases Necrotic Cores in Advanced Lesions of ApoE−/− Mice—Brief Report

Score: 9

DOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.124.322371

Similar Assertions

Even though the overall size of the plaque in the heart’s main artery didn’t change in mice without FFAR4 after 16 weeks, the dead-cell core inside got much bigger — meaning the plaque became more dangerous even if it didn’t grow.

95%

Male mice without the FFAR4 receptor develop bigger artery plaques in one specific area (the aortic arch) after eating a high-fat diet for 16 weeks, but female mice don't show this difference.

95%

When mice lack a specific receptor called FFAR4 and eat a high-fat diet, their artery plaques develop bigger dead-cell areas inside, which makes the plaques more dangerous.

93%

Mice without FFAR4 develop plaques with bigger dead-cell cores as their disease gets worse, which might mean FFAR4 helps keep plaques from becoming dangerous.

74%