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.

Scientific Claim

In ApoE−/− mice fed a Western diet for 16 weeks, FFAR4 deficiency is associated with a 27% increase in aortic arch plaque lesion area in males compared to ApoE−/− controls, with no significant change in females.

Original Statement

“After 16 weeks of Western diet feeding, ... male ApoE−/−/Ffar4−/− mice had a 27% increase in the plaque lesion area in the aortic arch compared with ApoE−/− controls.”

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 confirm causation. The verb 'is associated with' is appropriate; 'increases' implies causation and is overstated.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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

Cohort Study

Animal

2025 May

In male mice with a genetic defect and a high-fat diet, losing FFAR4 made their artery plaques 27% bigger, but in female mice, it didn’t change — which is exactly what the claim says.

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

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.

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%

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.

89%

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.

78%