HTHSCI 3BB3 - F2023 - 1C - The Science of Nutrition

What is the scientific method?

observation, hypothesis, experiment, theory

PICO(T)

Population

Intervention

Comparison

Outcome

Time

What to look for in a well-designed experiment:

- Would this population provide information

to answer the question?

- Are the population demographic representative?

- Is the population large enough to draw a conclusion?

Interventional Studies:

- intervention is used in an experimental group as compared to a control (placebo) group to determine cause or effect

- RCTs

Observational Studies:

- Researchers carefully and systematically observe and record behavior without interfering with behavior.

- Correlations can be observed, although cause and effect cannot be determined

- Cohort studies and Case- control studies

Retrospective studies:

where you know the outcome but are looking back to find a possible cause

Prospective studies

are where you don't know the outcome yet and are looking forward to see the outcomes

Inverse Association

negative correlation

Direct Association

positive correlation

CRAAP

C - currency

R - relevance

A - authority

A - accuracy

P - purpose

When shopping for natural health products, look for:

- Look for a Natural Product Number (NPN)

*Claims are based on evidence, but usually relate to nutritional deficiency, not when consumed in excess of recommended dietary intakes

What should you look for when researching for nutrition?

Registered Dietitians (RDs), academics with nutrition degrees and MDs only if they have nutrition education