Nutrition and disease: challenges of research design

Nutrition
Norman J Temple

Abstract

This review discusses research methodology in the relation between diet and disease. Medical research can be divided into two types: complex research (the detailed study of disease mechanisms using such methods as biochemistry and molecular genetics) and simple research (the investigation of the factors that cause or prevent disease using methods such as epidemiology, intervention trials, and analagous studies on animals). Although complex research has received the bulk of resources, the large majority of our information of practical value has come from simple research. This general principle is illustrated in the area of diet and disease by examples from various areas: selenium, carotenoids, and cancer; vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and coronary heart disease; dietary fat and obesity; dietary sodium and hypertension; and alcohol and stroke. Discussion then turns to aspects of the design of cohort (prospective) studies. Because of problems of sample size and relative lack of diversity, previous studies often failed to give clear-cut results. Suggestions are made concerning the design of cohort studies, notably the use of much larger numbers of subjects and with greater diversity in their diets. The problem of confounding also...Continue Reading

References

Jul 16, 1987·The New England Journal of Medicine
Jan 1, 1987·The New England Journal of Medicine·W C WillettF E Speizer
Jun 1, 1985·Medical Hypotheses·N J Temple
Dec 6, 1995·Journal of the National Cancer Institute·E GiovannucciW C Willett
Apr 14, 1994·The New England Journal of Medicine·UNKNOWN Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta Carotene Cancer Prevention Study Group
May 20, 1993·The New England Journal of Medicine·E B RimmW C Willett
May 15, 1996·American Journal of Epidemiology·J R Marshall, J L Hastrup
Feb 12, 1998·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·E B RimmM J Stampfer
Oct 3, 1998·Annals of Internal Medicine·E GiovannucciW C Willett
Nov 7, 1999·Lancet·R HarrisonP Elton
Nov 7, 1999·Lancet·P Salen, M de Lorgeril
Nov 24, 1999·The New England Journal of Medicine·K BergerC H Hennekens
Feb 22, 2000·Clinical Cornerstone·R A Johnson
Mar 1, 2000·American Journal of Epidemiology·L N KolonelF S Nagamine
Jul 6, 2000·The New England Journal of Medicine·I Jialal, S Devaraj
Aug 30, 2000·Lancet·M P Rayman

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 23, 2003·Mechanisms of Ageing and Development·Catia CiprianoEugenio Mocchegiani
Sep 28, 2002·American Journal of Preventive Medicine·Seth Roberts, Norman J Temple
Apr 26, 2003·Nutrition·Norman J Temple, Kerri Kaiser Gladwin
Dec 22, 2006·The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society·Jim Stevenson
Jul 17, 2012·Ecology of Food and Nutrition·Shamsul A Zainal BadariJariah Masud
Jul 8, 2008·Journal of Epidemiology·Kumi HirokawaHiroyuki Shimizu
Mar 7, 2014·European Journal of Clinical Nutrition·W C Wang, A Worsley
Nov 21, 2015·Genes & Nutrition·Frank Döring, Alexander Ströhle
Aug 24, 2005·The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry·Silvia MandelOrly Weinreb
Jun 24, 2015·Current Opinion in Lipidology·David R Jacobs, Linda C Tapsell
Nov 16, 2005·Circulation·Barbara FletcherUNKNOWN Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
V E Baracos
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
V E Baracos
Digestive and Liver Disease : Official Journal of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver
L Morelli
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved