New Scientist ' Tells On Old Scientists

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New Scientist ' Tells On Old Scientists JoAnn Guest Sep 14, 2005 17:13 PDT

 

 

9/9/05 Author: Christopher Barr Source: Naturally Speaking

 

NATURALLY Speaking

By Christopher C. Barr

 

'New Scientist' tells on old scientists

 

" Most published scientific research papers are wrong, " read the opening

of a " Breaking News " item last week from the ' New Scientist ' magazine

web site.

 

The article gave several reasons including " poor study design,

researcher bias, and selective reporting " as contributing factors that

" make most research findings false " .

 

It also cited that researchers " massage their conclusions after the

fact " .

 

A representative example of these points from last week's ' New

Scientist ' article appeared this week as though made to order.

 

Poor study design

 

News headlines proclaimed that B vitamins do not prevent heart attacks.

They singled out folic acid and pyridoxine (commonly called 'vitamin

B6').

 

Pyridoxine has been noted as a preventative factor against heart

disease. However, this study tested pyridoxine in those who already had

heart disease and who had suffered heart attacks. Damage was already

done prior to the preventative action of pyridoxine being introduced.

 

Pyridoxine prevents the build-up of homocysteine. This study consisted

of individuals that already had elevated levels of homocysteine.

 

Furthermore, the study focused on folic acid that breaks down

homocysteine after it is formed rather than focusing on pyridoxine which

prevents the build up of homocysteine.

 

Researcher bias

 

The lead author of the cited study has a lengthy history of downplaying

the importance of homocysteine though that was not reported in the news.

 

Selective reporting

 

The study was reported as one that demonstrated folic acid or B6 alone

had no effect against further heart attacks, and that both used together

resulted in more heart attacks. However, the study did not test B6 but

rather " high dose vitamin B pills " that happened to contain B6.

 

The tested substances were identified as " high-dose vitamin B pills " ,

" high-dose folic acid " , and " fake pills " . The truth is that they were

all fake pills. The alleged " nutrients " tested were of the man-made,

synthetic variety rather than from a whole food form.

 

One news article reported " Folates, such as folic acid and vitamin B "

though folate is a separate substance from either folic acid or the

vitamin B complex. Folate only occurs in food while folic acid does not

naturally occur in food.

 

Furthermore, the synthesized 'nutrients' were used " In addition to

standard heart medicines " . Though the biased researcher boldly stated

that " The homocysteine hypothesis is dead " , the only truthful conclusion

that can be accurately reached from this study is that synthetic

nutrients in combination with standard heart medications will not

prevent repeated heart attacks in those who have an already damaged

heart, and may make existing conditions worse in a small minority of

individuals.

 

This study did not examine actual life enhancing nutrients.

 

Massaged conclusions

 

The lead researcher erroneously concluded that, " The results of the

trial are important because they tell doctors that prescribing high

doses of B vitamins will not prevent heart disease or stroke. "

 

The study did not address preventing heart disease but rather further

heart attacks in those already having heart disease with previous heart

attacks. Furthermore it did not address actual vitamins but rather

man-made varieties.

 

This week's articles proclaiming B-vitamins to be of no value against

heart disease by old scientists is a perfect example of last week's

article that proclaimed " Most published scientific research papers are

wrong, " by ' New Scientist '.

 

Christopher C. Barr writes Naturally Speaking from Arkansas: The Natural

State … naturally! You may write him at P. O. Box 1147, Pocahontas,

Arkansas 72455 or by e-mail at servant-.

 

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html