"Acetaminophen ineffective against headaches" The Problem With Studies in the Media

I read a lot. Most of what I read is in the nutrition field and I love studies.  I am a total geek when it comes to numbers and research.

I have noticed a recent trend the last few years of what I call "sensationalism of studies".  I realize that not everyone is a geek on nutrition studies like me, but some of the headlines I read really concern me, because most people only read the headlines.

Take this one for instance:

From Purdue:

"Study: Higher-protein diets support weight loss, but may lower bone density in postmenopausal women"

 Now from reading this you would think that high-protein diets are causing bone fractures.  When you read the study, you find out that the diet they had them on was low in calcium based foods. THAT is the problem, not the protein.  I would also consider the diet they had the patients on as malnutrition. 


Another problem I see is that often companies will grant money to Universities to research their diet/weight loss plan.  The Universities gladly take this money and come out with only positive things to say about company and/or their products.  To me this is unethical, but everyday you will hear "University studied and approved".  The bad thing is that you really have to research to see who funded the study.

My favorite was a few years back, when I first realized this problem, I saw a beaming study on the Atkins diet (I do not mind the Atkins diet and have no problem with people being on it).  From the study you would almost think they had cured Cancer, AIDS and world hunger (okay a little exaggerated).  I noticed at the end of the study it said "Funded by a grant from Atkins Int.".  Really small writing at the very bottom, but it non-the less changed my opinion of "University studies".  You see the same thing, sadly enough, with the FDA and drug companies.

MY FAVORITE
The FDA and drug companies LOVE to bash supplements.  Why?  It's a cheaper and safer alternative to the chemicals they produce.  I will say in 95% of the studies on supplements they under dose the amount to be used and not so surprisingly you read headlines like "Ginkgo Biloba does not work in improving memory", "multivitamins not effective in preventing disease", and "Green Tea not effective in preventing cancer".

I could very easily come up with similar studies and bash FDA approved products.  In the Ginkgo study I read, the study dose used was 20mgs.  Not keep in mind that the effective dose for the age group they where using should have been minimally 100mgs or much much higher.  I would say around 200mgs would be effective for the 60-90 year olds they where using.  They clearly missed the mark on dosing. 

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is used to treat headaches, but if we hold their standards of research to Acetaminophen instead of getting 500-1000mg of an effective dose you would only get 50-100mg.  Without a doubt you would have a research study that says "Acetaminophen ineffective against headaches". 

I write this to simply caution you on the sensationalism of studies.  The media makes money off of hype.  Be sure and read the original study, not just a summary.  I have seen cases where major parts of research have been left out when the press get their hands on a study. 

Always question studies you read that are in the media, whether they support supplementation or are against.