I read the study, and had realized that they actually did have a low‐fat control group in a addition to the three high‐fat diets of varying composition. The change is body mass noted with the stearic acid was expressed in respect to the low‐fat group:



'The percentage of total body fat decreased 25%, while the percentage of total body lean mass increased 4% in the stearic acid diet group compared to the low fat mice when measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.' ―Ming-Che Shen ​



They had only measured only one cytokine, interleukin‐6, and this didn't vary. The measured blood parameter which had varied the most was serum glucose, which was found decreased in the stearic acid group—

They had only measured only one cytokine, interleukin‐6, and this didn't vary. The measured blood parameter which had varied the most was serum glucose, which was found decreased in the stearic acid group— despite them having eaten more than any other group

'Serum glucose was decreased in the stearic acid diet group compared to other diets while serum insulin and adiponectin levels did not change significantly, which is not definitive but certainly consistent with improved insulin sensitivity.' ―Ming-Che Shen ​



They also had performed a cell study, and had predictably found less proliferation with stearic acid compared to other oils. Also notable was that they spoke of their other studies showing stearic acid to reduce the tumor burden in rats. They speak of stearic acid quite realistically as being the only cancer-inhibiting fatty acid.



'Stearic acid (C18:0) is a long chain dietary saturated fatty acid that has been shown to reduce metastatic tumor burden. [...] In terms of stearic acid and breast cancer, cell culture and animal studies indicate a beneficial inhibitory effect of stearic acid on breast cancer cell growth, tumor growth, carcinogenesis and metastasis.' ―Ming-Che Shen ​



But this study had one caveat, something that cannot be ignored. Stearic acid was the only free fatty acid fed, as such; every other fatty acid was given as the triglyceride ester:

