Relevant evidence

Are the circumstances different from yours?

Always ask yourself if fair comparisons of interventions were conducted in circumstances that are relevant.

Some comparisons of interventions are designed in studies to find out if a nutrition intervention can work under ideal circumstances; for example, with people who are most likely to benefit, and most likely to comply, and with highly trained practitioners who deliver the nutrition intervention exactly as intended.

These comparisons, which are sometimes called “explanatory” studies, may not reflect what happens exactly under usual circumstances.

REMEMBER: Ask whether comparisons of nutrition interventions were conducted under ideal circumstances. The results of such studies may overestimate the benefits of the nutrition intervention when used under more usual circumstances.