The daily pattern of stress hormone in the mice’s poop is more complicated than just one peak—it has two peaks, and this complexity changes with diet.

Scientific Claim

Female ICR mice on a high-fat diet (60% kcal from fat) for four weeks show a greater fit of fecal corticosterone data to a two-component circadian model than to a single-component model, indicating complex rhythmic patterns.

Original Statement

“Corticosterone concentration better fit a two-component (CON R2 = 0.47 and HF R2 = 0.61) versus one component (CON R2 = 0.43 and HF R2 = 0.38) cosine curves...”

From study:High fat diet induces obesity, alters eating pattern and disrupts corticosterone circadian rhythms in female ICR mice

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The claim describes a statistical modeling outcome without overinterpreting biological meaning. 'Show a greater fit' accurately reflects the R² comparison.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (0)

No supporting evidence found

Contradicting (1)

High fat diet induces obesity, alters eating pattern and disrupts corticosterone circadian rhythms in female ICR mice

Cohort Study

Animal

2023

The study found that high-fat diets mess up the daily hormone rhythm in mice, but it didn’t check if the rhythm is better described by two overlapping patterns instead of one, so we can’t say the claim is proven.

Source Study

High fat diet induces obesity, alters eating pattern and disrupts corticosterone circadian rhythms in female ICR mice

Score: 15

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279209

Similar Assertions

The natural daily rise and fall of the stress hormone in the mice’s poop becomes flatter and stays higher all day when they eat a fatty diet.

95%

Even normal mice have a more complicated daily rhythm of stress hormone than just one peak—it has two peaks, and this is true for all mice, not just those on a fatty diet.

90%

Mice that eat a high-fat diet start snacking more during the day—when they normally sleep—and eat less at night—when they normally are active.

83%

The time of day when the stress hormone peaks shifts from daytime to nighttime in mice eating a high-fat diet, which is the opposite of what normally happens.

82%

Even if they eat the same amount of food by weight, mice on a fatty diet take in way more calories because fat has more energy than other nutrients.

79%