- 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.
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>
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.
Jake, is that an actual study or how you think it should have been done?
“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?