8 Evaluating Nutrition Evidence and Applying Nutrition Principles Free Online FlashCards

What elements define a focused nutrition research question?

A useful nutrition question identifies the population, dietary exposure or intervention, comparison, outcome, and time period.

Why is a change in a biomarker not proof of disease prevention?

A biomarker is an intermediate measure; a change in blood cholesterol, for example, does not by itself prove that a diet prevents heart attacks.

What does random assignment contribute to an RCT?

In a randomized controlled trial, researchers assign participants by chance to intervention or comparison groups. Randomization can reduce differences between groups and help test whether an intervention caused an outcome.

What is a key limitation of cohort studies of diet?

A cohort study follows people over time and compares outcomes among people with different dietary habits. Because people choose their diets, other differences may partly explain an observed association.

What determines whether a systematic review or meta-analysis is reliable?

A systematic review uses a defined method to find and assess multiple studies; a meta-analysis statistically combines results when appropriate. Their conclusions depend on the quality, comparability, and completeness of included studies.

What does an association between a food and health establish on its own?

An association means two things vary together, but does not by itself show that one caused the other. Confounding factors or other dietary changes may help explain the pattern.

How can a statistically significant nutrition result still have little practical importance?

Statistical significance does not guarantee a substantial practical effect. Consider the effect size and, when available, confidence intervals—not only a p-value or headline percentage.

What is a limitation of a single 24-hour dietary recall?

A 24-hour dietary recall records what someone remembers eating and drinking on one recent day. It can provide detail, but one day may not represent usual intake.

Does a supplement structure/function claim prove disease prevention or treatment?

A structure/function claim describes how a product may affect the body; it is not proof that a supplement prevents or treats disease.

How do macronutrients differ from micronutrients?

Carbohydrates, protein, and fat are macronutrients that provide energy and support body functions. Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients needed in smaller amounts for processes such as tissue maintenance and metabolism.

How does a case-control study investigate possible dietary exposures?

A case-control study compares people with an outcome to similar people without it, then looks backward for possible exposures. Past diet may be recalled inaccurately.

Why can a cross-sectional study struggle to establish cause and effect?

A cross-sectional study measures diet and health at roughly the same time. It can describe patterns but usually cannot establish which came first.