Science Current Events | Science News | Brightsurf.com
 
Email a Friend Send to a friend
Printer Friendly Print Experts discuss applying systematic review to the field of nutrition

Experts discuss applying systematic review to the field of nutrition

December 02, 2008

Performing systematic reviews of nutrition related topics raises unique challenges not often encountered in the field of medicine. In a new article, a team of researchers use specific examples to describe the steps, strengths, and limitations of systematic reviews relevant to nutrition and discuss the factors that impact the results.

Systematic reviews, also referred to as evidence-based reviews, provide objective assessments with pre-specified questions that can be used to develop clinical and public health practice guidelines, make recommendations, set research agendas, and formulate scientific consensus statements.




"Systematic reviews serve as a means of synthesizing and evaluating evidence from multiple studies in a rigorous and transparent way that minimizes bias," says corresponding author Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, director of the Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University. "The systematic review approach is flexible and can accommodate unique challenges posed by questions related to food and nutrition."

Writing in the December issue of the Journal of Nutrition, the authors provide examples illustrating the flexibility of the approach to a wide range of nutrition-related topics including: effectiveness and safety of vitamin D in relation to bone health, effects of soy on health outcomes, and health effects of (n-3) fatty acids on arrythmogenic mechanisms in animal and isolated organ/cell culture studies.

"When we deal with nutrition-related topics and systematic reviews, we often address issues that are not encountered in other fields of study," says co-author Elizabeth A. Yetley, PhD, a former senior nutrition research scientist with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). "Nutrient intake, whether from food or supplements, tends to be more difficult to accurately quantify than, for example, the daily dosage of a medication. Therefore, when performing a systematic review, it is particularly important to document methods of assessment."

Equally important, the authors write, is the documentation of new data as it emerges, as well as objectivity. Objectivity of a systematic review comes from individuals trained in systematic review methodologies, such as co-author Joseph Lau, MD, director of the Tufts Evidence-based Practice Center at the Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies at Tufts Medical Center. "To be involved in a systematic review, I must be free of personal biases or vested interest in a particular outcome. I focus on the methodology and look to my colleagues for their nutrition expertise," says Lau, also a professor at Tufts University School of Medicine.

The process of performing a systematic review begins with clearly defining the research question. Lichtenstein, the Stanley N. Gershoff professor at Tufts' Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and colleagues advocate the "PICO" approach to formulating research questions. The acronym PICO stands for Population (participants), Intervention (or exposure for observational studies), Comparator and Outcome."

"While systematic reviews cannot replace expert judgment and should not be used as a sole source of information for developing science-based recommendations and policies, they are valuable tools that can be adapted effectively for use in the field of nutrition," says Lichtenstein.

Tufts University, Health Sciences



Related Systematic Review Current Events and Systematic Review News Articles Systematic Review Current Events and Systematic Review News RSS Systematic Review Current Events and Systematic Review News RSS
Acetaminophen may be linked to asthma in children and adults
New research shows that the widely used pain reliever acetaminophen may be associated with an increased risk of asthma and wheezing in both children and adults exposed to the drug.

New clinical guidelines for exacerbations in cystic fibrosis
The American Thoracic Society has released new clinical guidelines for the treatment of exacerbations in cystic fibrosis based on a review of the literature on current clinical practices.

Review: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines effective at preventing child deaths
A study published in The Cochrane Review this month concludes that pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV), already known to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and x-ray defined pneumonia, was also effective against child deaths.

Research needed to learn which DCIS patients may be candidates for less invasive therapy
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), the most common non-invasive lesion of the breast, presents unique challenges for patients and providers largely because the natural course of the untreated disease is not well understood.

MUHC/McGill researchers to WHO: Time to revise tuberculosis treatment guidelines
Tuberculosis is a global threat that affects more than 10 million people each year. Working with colleagues in the United States and France, Dr. Dick Menzies of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) has placed current tuberculosis treatment guidelines under the microscope in a new study.

Moths cloaked in color
Travelers to the neotropics-the tropical lands of the Americas-might be forgiven for thinking that all of the colorful insects flittering over sunny puddles or among dense forest understory are butterflies.

Organic food not nutritionally better than conventionally-produced food
There is no evidence that organically produced foods are nutritionally superior to conventionally produced foodstuffs, according to a study published today in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons approves new guideline for the treatment of pediatric diaphyseal femur fractures
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons'(AAOS) Board of Directors approved a new clinical practice guideline for the treatment of pediatric diaphyseal femur fractures. Diaphyseal (the shaft of a long bone) fracture of the femur (the bone in the thigh) is a very common childhood injury.

New cases of Alzheimer's and dementia continue to rise, even in the 'oldest old'
The number of people with Alzheimer's and dementia - both new cases and total numbers with the disease - continues to rise among the very oldest segments of the population in contradiction of the conventional wisdom.

Delirium in hospitalized adults: Situation critical, no relief available
Every year as many as seven million adults in the United States experience delirium during hospitalization.
More Systematic Review Current Events and Systematic Review News Articles
Systematic Reviews in Health Care: Meta-Analysis in Context

Systematic Reviews in Health Care: Meta-Analysis in Context
by Matthias Egger (Editor), George Davey Smith (Editor), Douglas Altman (Editor)

(BMJ Books) Univ. of Bristol, UK. Introduction to the rationale and principles of systematic reviews and an overview of more advanced topics, such as the investigation of bias or the review of prognostic and diagnostic studies. Covers the statistical methods used for meta-analysis. For researchers and healthcare providers.

Systematic Reviews in Health Care: A Practical Guide

Systematic Reviews in Health Care: A Practical Guide
by Paul Glasziou (Author), Les Irwig (Author), Chris Bain (Author), Graham Colditz (Author)

The past two decades have seen increasing interest and developments in methods for doing high quality systematic reviews. This volume provides a clear introduction to the concepts of systematic reviews, and lucidly describes the difficulties and traps to avoid. A unique feature of the manual is its description of the different methods needed for different types of health care questions: frequency of disease, prognosis, diagnosis, risk, and management. This book also provides illustrative examples and exercises for each of the sections.

Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (Wiley Cochrane Series  )

Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (Wiley Cochrane Series  )
by Dr Julian P.T Higgins (Editor), Sally Green (Editor)

Healthcare providers, consumers, researchers and policy makers are inundated with unmanageable amounts of information, including evidence from healthcare research. It has become impossible for all to have the time and resources to find, appraise and interpret this evidence and incorporate it into healthcare decisions. Cochrane Reviews respond to this challenge by identifying, appraising and synthesizing research-based evidence and presenting it in a standardized format, published in The Cochrane Library (www.thecochranelibrary.com).

The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions contains methodological guidance for the preparation and maintenance of Cochrane intervention reviews. Written in a clear and accessible format, it is the essential manual for all those...

Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (Pocket Guides to Social Work Research Methods)

Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (Pocket Guides to Social Work Research Methods)
by Julia H. Littell (Author), Jacqueline Corcoran (Author), Vijayan Pillai (Author)

When used in tandem, systematic reviews and meta-analysis-- two distinct but highly compatible approaches to research synthesis-- form a powerful, scientific approach to analyzing previous studies. But to see their full potential, a social work researcher must be versed in the foundational processes underlying them. This pocket guide to Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis illuminates precisely that practical groundwork.

In clear, step-by-step terms, the authors explain how to format topics, locate and screen studies, extract and assess data, pool effect sizes, determine bias, and interpret the results, showing readers how to combine reviewing and meta-analysis correctly and effectively. Each chapter contains vivid social work examples and concludes with a concise summary...

Systematic Reviews in the Social Sciences: A Practical Guide

Systematic Reviews in the Social Sciences: A Practical Guide
by Mark Petticrew (Author), Helen Roberts (Author)

Such diverse thinkers as Lao-Tze, Confucius, and U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld have all pointed out that we need to be able to tell the difference between real and assumed knowledge. The systematic review is a scientific tool that can help with this difficult task. It can help, for example, with appraising, summarising, and communicating the results and implications of otherwise unmanageable quantities of data.

This book, written by two highly-respected social scientists, provides an overview of systematic literature review methods:

Outlining the rationale and methods of systematic reviews;
Giving worked examples from social science and other fields;
Applying the practice to all social science disciplines;
It requires no previous knowledge, but takes the...

Systematic Reviews to Support Evidence-Based Medicine: How to Review and Apply Findings of Healthcare Research

Systematic Reviews to Support Evidence-Based Medicine: How to Review and Apply Findings of Healthcare Research
by Khalid S. Khan (Author), Regina Kunz (Author), Jos Kleijnen (Author), Gerd Antes (Author)

Birmingham Women's Hospital, UK. Text describes the main principles behind systematic review of healthcare research and provides guidance on how reviews can be appraised, conducted, and applied in practice. Highlights the core information necessary for planning and preparing reviews. Softcover.

Neurology Oral Boards Review: A Concise and Systematic Approach to Clinical Practice

Neurology Oral Boards Review: A Concise and Systematic Approach to Clinical Practice
by Eroboghene E. Ubogu (Author)

A comprehensive yet concise review of relevant topics and examination strategies needed to pass the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) Part II (Oral) exam, complete with up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines on diagnosis and management in clinical neurology. The book follows the ABPN format, providing clinical case vignettes designed to allow the examinee to localize the plausible disease process, to indicate which investigations may help in establishing a diagnosis, to deduce treatment plans, and to make a prognosis, including patient and family counseling. The emergency cases test the ability to think critically when faced with a neurological emergency, putting a premium on resuscitation, patient safety, and rapid high-yield investigations. The general neurology cases...

Psychiatry Essentials: A Systematic Review

Psychiatry Essentials: A Systematic Review
by Alex Kolevzon MD (Author), Daphne Simeon MD (Author)

(Hanley & Belfus) Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Comprehensive review of clinical psychiatry written from a student's perspective. Each topic is divided into three sections: 'The Basics,' 'Essential Features,' and 'Depth and Detail,' corresponding to a different point in the rotation. DNLM: Mental Disorders--Examination Questions.

Contributions Toward Evidence-based Psychocardiology: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Contributions Toward Evidence-based Psychocardiology: A Systematic Review of the Literature
by Jochen Jordan (Editor), Benjamin Barde (Editor), Andreas Michael Zeiher (Editor)

Although there is extensive research on the psychosocial factors that influence the etiology, progression, and effective treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD), these findings are seldom applied in clinical situations. There are several possible reasons for this, including the questionable quality of some of the research, and a lack of productive dialog between psychologists and physicians. This book aims to correct that situation. The chapters in this volume are based on a systematic meta-analysis of the international literature by 40 German scientists who convened to evaluate the research and discarded all but the highest quality data on psychological aspects of CHD. The result is a collection of chapters that synthesize the most significant findings and...

  Systematic Theology, vol. 3. (book reviews): An article from: First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life
by Robert W. Jenson (Author)

This digital document is an article from First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life, published by Institute on Religion and Public Life on October 1, 1998. The length of the article is 1704 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Systematic Theology, vol. 3. (book reviews)
Author: Robert W. Jenson
Publication: First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life (Refereed)
Date: October 1, 1998
Publisher: Institute on Religion and Public Life
Issue: n86 Page: p42(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson...

© 2009 BrightSurf.com