| You read about a supplement that allegedly "Boosts | | | | scientific evidence for a supplement's beneficial health |
| your mood and motivation!" That sure sounds good | | | | effects on human beings. Only research with human |
| so your surf over to the company's web site.The | | | | subjects, using randomized controlled trials, can offer |
| web site looks official--it's even got footnotes citing | | | | such evidence.On the PubMed.org search page, click |
| scientific journals. You're ready to purchase the | | | | on the "Limits" tab located under the "Search" box. |
| supplement online until you ask yourself, "What if this | | | | You will see a number of drop-down menus. First click |
| supplement doesn't really possess any scientific | | | | on the Publication Type menu and then select |
| evidence for its efficacy? How can I tell the | | | | Randomized Controlled Trial. Next click on the |
| difference between supplements with solid evidence | | | | drop-down menu labeled, Humans or Animals and click |
| for their reported benefits versus those lacking any | | | | on Humans.An ExampleMorinda citrifolia is the scientific |
| scientific support?"Here are the 3 Steps to answer | | | | name for a popular ingredient in a nutritional |
| those questions:Step 1: Go to is a National Library of | | | | supplement. First search on PubMed for Morinda |
| Medicine (United States) web site where you can | | | | citrifolia, without placing Limits on your search.How |
| search for articles published in peer-reviewed scientific | | | | many results did you receive?The count was 69 at |
| journals.Why check PubMed? Because the National | | | | the time I wrote this article. Looks impressive, |
| Library of Medicine carefully selects only high-quality | | | | huh?But now search for Morinda citrifolia after first |
| journals that offer value to medical scientists around | | | | placing Limits on the search as described above, so |
| the world. Selection criteria are detailed on this web | | | | that you receive only those studies which provide |
| page: 2: Once on the PubMed web site, search for | | | | more definitive scientific evidence for the positive |
| research articles using the generic (scientific) name of | | | | effects of Morinda citrifolia.How many journal articles |
| the supplement in question. Supplement | | | | did you find searching with the specified limits? I |
| manufacturers must list the scientific name for their | | | | found 1. Thus, out of 69 articles found on |
| supplement's ingredients on the label and in | | | | PubMed.org, only one provides some evidence |
| advertisements. Supplements often contain many | | | | forMorinda citrifolia's beneficial effects.It's great that |
| ingredients but usually only a few provide the | | | | this study exists because it could end up being one |
| purported benefits. Those are the ingredients you | | | | of several studies demonstrating that Morinda citrifolia |
| want to evaluate--they are often the same ones the | | | | provides health benefits. However, at the present |
| manufacturer highlights in advertisements.Step 3: This | | | | time, the most one could say about Morinda citrifolia |
| is the step some supplement companies don't want | | | | is something like, "One study has provided very |
| you to know. Before you click on the "Search" | | | | preliminary evidence of Morinda citrifolia's health |
| button at PubMed.org, limit your search to studies | | | | benefits with a narrowly defined patient group. |
| that utilize the right research methodology with the | | | | Further controlled trials are needed to determine if |
| right population.The right research methodology is a | | | | this result will be replicated by other research groups |
| randomized controlled trial (the double-blind, placebo | | | | working with different populations."ConclusionBy using |
| control group design fits under this category) and the | | | | the "Limits" function on the PubMed.org search menu, |
| right population is human beings.Specifying human | | | | consumers can identify supplements that lack |
| subjects is important because you want to know if | | | | scientific evidence for their efficacy.Mark Worthen, |
| the ingredients in a supplement have been shown to | | | | Psy.D. is a Phi Betta Kappa graduate of the University |
| produce the advertised benefits in real live human | | | | of Maryland's Honors Psychology program. He was a |
| beings--not just in rats pressing levers for food | | | | Clinical Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard |
| pellets or in a "case study" with one person.This is | | | | Medical School and earned his Doctor of Psychology |
| not to say that basic science research, which is often | | | | degree from Baylor University in 1990. In addition to |
| conducted initially with animals, is unimportant. On the | | | | his work as a psychologist, he is an independent |
| contrary, such research usually serves as a crucial | | | | representative for a leading health and wellness |
| building block for subsequent clinical research with | | | | company and owner of Best-Mlm-Opportunities. |
| humans. But basic science research does not provide | | | | |