More Biased Research Results

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tex
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More Biased Research Results

Post by tex »

Hi All,

A lot of the research published these days is based on data that's manipulated (selectively derived and/or selectively chosen) in order to yield results that conform to preconceived ideas of what the results should be. IMO, here is another example of such research, that involved the use of the Mediterranean diet to influence the condition known as metabolic syndrome:
The Mediterranean diet didn't lower the odds of developing metabolic syndrome -- a collection of risk factors for heart disease -- compared to following a low-fat diet, the study found. But, the Mediterranean diet did increase the chance of reversing metabolic syndrome, said lead researcher Dr. Jordi Salas-Salvado, a professor of nutrition at the Universitat Rovira I Virgili and Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan de Reus, in Spain.
Another Study Links Mediterranean Diet to Better Heart Health

When you read that, do the claims seem logical? Does anyone really believe that a diet could reverse the metabolic syndrome, but not be capable of preventing it in the first place? I find those claims to be highly incongruent, because they contradict logic. Why would a diet be capable of reversing a condition (something that is typically very difficult to do), but not be capable of preventing the condition in the first place (something that is typically much easier to do)? :headscratch:

Now I have nothing against the Mediterranean diet, and I'm not claiming that these results are not possible — I'm just pointing out that part of it at least appears to be highly implausible, because of an apparent contradiction. It smacks of either data manipulation, or more likely, a trial that was poorly-designed in the first place.

Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by Gabes-Apg »

i wonder what the genetic mix of participants were??
if 70% or more of the participants had genetic links to mediterranean origins would that taint the results ?

was it funded by the olive oil producers?
Gabes Ryan

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Post by tex »

Gabes,

I have no idea. The conclusions just struck me as odd. If the researchers had concluded that the Mediterranean diet would prevent metabolic syndrome, that wouldn't have surprised me at all. In fact, I would expect that it would. But for them to claim that it wouldn't prevent metabolic syndrome, but the diet could reverse it if it already existed, seems to be quite a stretch. Something is wrong, somewhere, either with the data, or with the way that they interpreted it.

How can a dietary treatment cure a problem, but not be able to prevent it?

Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by JFR »

It makes no sense to me either, Tex. Without seeing the actual research report it is impossible to really critique it beyond saying it sounds like nonsense.

Gabes - The article Tex linked to says this study was funded by the Spanish government.

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Post by Gabes-Apg »

funded by the Spanish government
mmmm who heavily fund the olive oil industry in that country.
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Post by JFR »

Gabes-Apg wrote:
funded by the Spanish government
mmmm who heavily fund the olive oil industry in that country.
That what I was thinking :roll:
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