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.

Scientific Claim

Female ICR mice fed a high-fat diet (60% kcal from fat) for four weeks display attenuated circadian rhythms of fecal corticosterone, with reduced amplitude and elevated basal levels compared to controls.

Original Statement

“HF mice had elevated basal corticosterone, attenuated circadian rhythms, and a shift in amplitude... The amplitude... was reduced in HF (131.1 ng/ml) versus CON (291.1 ng/ml). Mesor... was elevated in HF mice (2229.3 ± 35.46 ng/ml) compared to CON (1897.3 ± 86.61 ng/ml).”

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 study uses validated rhythm analysis (cosinor) on repeated measures, supporting descriptive claims of rhythm disruption. 'Attenuated' and 'elevated' are accurate descriptors of observed data patterns.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (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 female mice eating a very fatty diet for a month had messed-up daily stress hormone cycles — their hormone levels stayed high all the time and didn’t drop at night like they should, which is exactly what the claim says.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

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 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.

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.

87%

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.

87%

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.

81%

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.

81%