Perspective: Randomized Controlled Trials Are Not a Panacea for Diet-Related Research
Authors
Hebert, James R.Frongillo, Edward A.
Adams, Swann A.
Turner-McGrievy, Gabrielle M.
Hurley, Thomas G.
Miller, Donald R.
Ockene, Ira S.
UMass Chan Affiliations
Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular MedicineDocument Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2016-05-18
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Research into the role of diet in health faces a number of methodologic challenges in the choice of study design, measurement methods, and analytic options. Heavier reliance on randomized controlled trial (RCT) designs is suggested as a way to solve these challenges. We present and discuss 7 inherent and practical considerations with special relevance to RCTs designed to study diet: 1) the need for narrow focus; 2) the choice of subjects and exposures; 3) blinding of the intervention; 4) perceived asymmetry of treatment in relation to need; 5) temporal relations between dietary exposures and putative outcomes; 6) strict adherence to the intervention protocol, despite potential clinical counter-indications; and 7) the need to maintain methodologic rigor, including measuring diet carefully and frequently. Alternatives, including observational studies and adaptive intervention designs, are presented and discussed. Given high noise-to-signal ratios interjected by using inaccurate assessment methods in studies with weak or inappropriate study designs (including RCTs), it is conceivable and indeed likely that effects of diet are underestimated. No matter which designs are used, studies will require continued improvement in the assessment of dietary intake. As technology continues to improve, there is potential for enhanced accuracy and reduced user burden of dietary assessments that are applicable to a wide variety of study designs, including RCTs.Source
Adv Nutr. 2016 May 16;7(3):423-32. doi: 10.3945/an.115.011023. Print 2016 May. Link to article on publisher's siteDOI
10.3945/an.115.011023Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/28802PubMed ID
27184269Related Resources
Link to Article in PubMedae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.3945/an.115.011023