Assorted Links
- someone agrees with me that “correlation does not equal causation” is not great wisdom
- Vitamin D did not prevent colds. One more Vitamin D experiment that failed to have subjects take the Vitamin D early in the morning — the time it appears most likely to have a good effect.
- The rise and fall of schizophrenia. “Compared to any other medical disease, uniquely patients with schizophrenia in many ways fare far worse now than a century ago.”
- The healing power of social networks. “People with schizophrenia . . . do far better in poorer nations such as India, Nigeria and Colombia than in Denmark, England and the United States.”
- Rampant overtreatment.
Thanks to Bryan Castañeda.
October 7th, 2012 at 11:01 am
Am I reading it correctly the Vitamin D study recieved 100,000 IU a month? At once?
Seth: Yes. Here’s a description: “Participants were randomly assigned to receive an initial dose of 200 000 IU oral vitamin D3, then 200 000 IU 1 month later, then 100 000 IU monthly (n = 161), or placebo administered in an identical dosing regimen (n = 161), for a total of 18 months.”An experimental design that assumes that all that matters is the blood level of Vitamin D3< /strong>
October 7th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
This Vitamin D study was a poorly done should be ignored. They did not test for blood levels of Vitamin D which is essential as there is huge variation in people’s ability to absorb Vitamin D.
Here is a better study:
A controlled study of severely Vitamin D deficient women over 50 from Harlem were randomly selected to be supplemented. One group was supplemented to bring them up to moderately deficient. They had a 60% reduced risk of colds and influenza. Another group were supplemented to bring them up to optimum Vitamin D blood level and they had a 90% reduction in risk.
October 7th, 2012 at 5:34 pm
Jake, is that an actual study or how you think it should have been done?
October 7th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
“someone agrees with me that “correlation does not equal causation” is not great wisdom”: then you’re both wrong. The advice is offered to freshers for good reason.
Seth: Correlations are useful. They provide evidence relevant to causation. The saying I disparage says roughly the opposite. How is that helpful?