The Study
Effect of starvation or restriction on self-selection of macronutrients in rats.
This study watched rats eat different foods after being hungry and measured some brain chemicals. It didn't prove that being hungry made them choose certain foods—it just noticed a pattern. We can't say one thing caused the other.
Analysis score
Maximum 58 for a case-control study.
Where the score came from
Rats that were starved or food-restricted chose different foods when they could eat again, and their brain chemicals changed too.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 58 / 100
Quality score
Researchers compare people who have a condition (cases) with similar people who do not (controls), looking back in time for differences in exposure. Useful but more prone to bias.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1This suggests hunger changes brain chemistry in ways that might drive food cravings, but it's in rats, not humans.
- 2Rats that were food-restricted had lower serotonin and higher 5-HIAA in a brain region called the raphe.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Physiology & behavior
Year
1992
Authors
Hunsicker Kd, B. J. Mullen, Roy J Martin
Related Content
Claims (4)
Rats that experienced starvation or food restriction later choose different proportions of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates when food becomes available again, compared to rats that were never restricted.
Rats that are fed less food show lower levels of serotonin in a specific brain region called the raphe nuclei.
When rats are deprived of food and then allowed to eat again, their brainstem shows higher levels of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid, a breakdown product of serotonin.
After a long period of low-carbohydrate eating, consuming carbohydrates again increases glycogen levels and maintains serotonin production.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.