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About This Episode:
Numerous nutrition studies present findings of “no effect,” but interpreting such results requires caution. A null finding, indicating an absence of impact from a nutrient or exposure, may not necessarily suggest a lack of effect overall. Instead, it could stem from issues related to the study’s design, the nature of the exposure, or participant characteristics.
We’ve often referred to such studies as being “null by design”.
These studies, often termed “null by design,” may yield inconclusive results due to insufficient contrast in exposure levels to reveal a significant effect size. Additionally, participants’ baseline nutrient status or intake can contribute to false negatives. For instance, if a study provides a nutrient to individuals already replete in that nutrient, it may lead to an erroneous conclusion. This phenomenon can be understood by considering the bell curve of activity for a nutrient.
Moreover, a lack of methodological rigor can generate ‘false negatives.’ If previous literature indicates associations between high intake of a specific food or nutrient and certain outcomes, a study comparing levels of intake well below that threshold may produce a misleading result.
Some challenges arise from an overly reductionist perspective. In disease processes, reductionism simplifies diseases to a single primary source at the cellular and molecular level. This perspective assumes that if a nutrient shows a relationship with health or disease outcomes at a population level, its biological activity should manifest in isolation. However, applying such assumptions to exposures like diet may not be tenable.
In this discussion, we delve into the concept of “null by design” and present three specific studies with null findings, emphasizing the need for careful interpretation.
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#443: Kevin Klatt, PhD, RD - Can Choline Help Improve DHA Status?
#442: Are Vegetables Detrimental to Health?
SNP5: Prof. Stuart Phillips - Ask Me Anything! [Preview]
#441: Julie Abayomi, PhD, RD - Diet During Pregnancy
#440: Are Dietary Guidelines Trying To Kill Us?
SNP4: Detoxification Protocols [Preview]
#439: Prof. David Jenkins - Lipid-Lowering Diets
#438: Diet, Brain Health & Cognitive Function
#437: GMOs & Genetic Engineering: Harmless or Health-Hazard?
#436: Charlene Van Buiten, PhD – Coeliac Disease & the Search for Novel Therapies
#435: Fasting & Longevity – Does the Evidence Match the Hype?
SNP2: "Fish is Bad For You" [PREVIEW]
#434: Is a Vegan Diet Really Best for Diabetes?
#433: Greg Potter, PhD - The Bidirectional Relationship Between Sleep and Diet
#432: Bill Harris, PhD - Omega-3 Fatty Acids & Health
#431: Artificial Sweeteners - Health Impacts and ‘Safe’ Levels
SNP1: "Don’t Eat Vegetables" [Preview]
#430: Soy - Yes, No, Maybe?
#429: Kevin Hall, PhD & Stephan Guyenet, PhD - Carbohydrate-Insulin Model vs. Energy Balance Model
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