The Claim
In postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity, higher intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids is associated with elevated basal cortisol levels (r=0.36, p<0.05), contradicting the hypothesis that polyunsaturated fatty acids suppress cortisol.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
In postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity, higher consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids is linked to higher resting cortisol levels.
See the scientific wording
In postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity, higher intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PFA) is associated with elevated basal cortisol levels (r=0.36, p<0.05), contradicting the hypothesis that PFA suppresses cortisol.
Eating more polyunsaturated fats increases stress hormone levels because the body becomes less able to shut off the stress response, causing the brain to keep signaling the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol.
What the research says
1 studyThe study found that postmenopausal women who ate more polyunsaturated fats (like fish oil) had higher baseline stress hormone (cortisol) levels — exactly what the claim says. This is the opposite of what some earlier theories thought.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.