The Claim

In overweight postmenopausal women, a diet high in cheese or meat increases fecal bile acid excretion compared to a high-carbohydrate diet and results in distinct bile acid profiles between cheese and meat consumption.

Source: Diets with high-fat cheese, high-fat meat, or carbohydrate on cardiovascular risk markers in overweight postmenopausal women: a randomized crossover trial.

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
60score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Cause and effect
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In overweight women after menopause, eating a lot of cheese or meat leads to higher levels of bile acids in feces than eating a high-carbohydrate diet, and the types of bile acids differ between cheese and meat diets.

See the scientific wording

In overweight postmenopausal women, consuming a diet high in cheese or meat increases fecal bile acid excretion compared to a high-carbohydrate diet, with distinct bile acid profiles between cheese and meat, suggesting differential effects on gut metabolism.

Why this might work

When people eat cheese or meat instead of carbohydrates, the fats and calcium in these foods reach the gut and prevent bile acids from being reused. This forces the liver to make more bile acids from cholesterol, and more bile acids leave the body in stool. The type of bile acids lost differs between cheese and meat because their food structures change how bile acids behave in the gut.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Diets with high-fat cheese, high-fat meat, or carbohydrate on cardiovascular risk markers in overweight postmenopausal women: a randomized crossover trial.

    This study found that when overweight postmenopausal women ate more cheese or meat instead of carbs, they passed more bile acids in their stool — and the types of bile acids were different depending on whether they ate cheese or meat. This means cheese and meat affect digestion differently than carbs.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.