Posts Tagged ‘health’

evidence against homeopathy

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

Seeing as I made a list of what lesser scholarly inclined would call “evidence for homeopathy“, I find it only fitting to also provide a a few studies that show no effect of homeopathy. These are only a few, you can find tons more on pubmed, or wikipedia.

Note, that many of these are meta studies which means it’s a study of several other studies (usually some poor ones). This means there will often be some weak results saying there is an effect other than placebo. This is caused by poor studies (methodological flaws, insufficient randomization, ineffective blinding, confirmation and publication biases, etc..) that are “averaged” into the results of the meta study.

A systematic review of systematic reviews of homeopathy (link)
“In conclusion, the hypothesis that any given homeopathic remedy leads to clinical effects that are relevantly different from placebo or superior to other control interventions for any medical condition, is not supported by evidence from systematic reviews”

Homeopathy for childhood and adolescence ailments (link)
“The evidence from rigorous clinical trials of any type of therapeutic or preventive intervention testing homeopathy for childhood and adolescence ailments is not convincing enough for recommendations in any condition”

Are the clinical effects of homoeopathy placebo effects (link)
“This finding is compatible with the notion that the clinical effects of homoeopathy are placebo effects”

Clinical trials of homoeopathy (link)
“At the moment the evidence of clinical trials is positive but not sufficient to draw definitive conclusions because most trials are of low methodological quality and because of the unknown role of publication bias”

Are the clinical effects of homeopathy placebo effects? A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials (link)
“the results of our meta-analysis are not compatible with the hypothesis that the clinical effects of homeopathy are completely due to placebo. However, we found insufficient evidence from these studies that homeopathy is clearly efficacious for any single clinical condition”

Evidence of clinical efficacy of homeopathy (link)
“There is some evidence that homeopathic treatments are more effective than placebo; however, the strength of this evidence is low because of the low methodological quality of the trials. Studies of high methodological quality were more likely to be negative than the lower quality studies”

Impact of study quality on outcome in placebo-controlled trials of homeopathy (link)
“We conclude that in the study set investigated, there was clear evidence that studies with better methodological quality tended to yield less positive results.”

The methodological quality of randomized controlled trials of homeopathy, herbal medicines and acupuncture (link)
“While the methodological quality of the trials was highly variable, the majority had important shortcomings in reporting and/or methodology.”

Is homeopathy a clinically valuable approach? (link)
“Contrary to many claims by homeopaths, there is no conclusive evidence that highly dilute homeopathic remedies are different from placebos. The benefits that many patients experience after homeopathic treatment are therefore most probably due to nonspecific treatment effects. Contrary to widespread belief, homeopathy is not entirely devoid of risk. Thus, the proven benefits of highly dilute homeopathic remedies, beyond the beneficial effects of placebos, do not outweigh the potential for harm that this approach can cause”

Efficacy of homeopathic arnica (link)
“The claim that homeopathic arnica is efficacious beyond a placebo effect is not supported by rigorous clinical trials”

A systematic review of the quality of homeopathic pathogenetic trials published from 1945 to 1995 (link)
“The central question of whether homeopathic medicines in high dilutions can provoke effects in healthy volunteers has not yet been definitively answered, because of methodological weaknesses of the reports”

Efficacy of homeopathic therapy in cancer treatment (link)
“Our analysis of published literature on homeopathy found insufficient evidence to support clinical efficacy of homeopathic therapy in cancer care”

Homeopathy for chronic asthma (link)
“here is not enough evidence to reliably assess the possible role of homeopathy in asthma”

Homeopathy for dementia (link)
“In view of the absence of evidence it is not possible to comment on the use of homeopathy in treating dementia”

Homoeopathy for induction of labour (link)
“There is insufficient evidence to recommend the use of homoeopathy as a method of induction”

Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study of homoeopathic prophylaxis of migraine (link)
“Overall, there was no significant benefit over placebo of homoeopathic treatment”

Randomized controlled trials of individualized homeopathy (link)
“The results of the available randomized trials suggest that individualized homeopathy has an effect over placebo. The evidence, however, is not convincing because of methodological shortcomings and inconsistencies.”

The effects of homeopathic belladonna 30CH in healthy volunteers (link)
“There is no indication that belladonna 30CH produces symptoms different from placebo or from no intervention”

Comparison of homeopathy, placebo and antibiotic treatment of clinical mastitis in dairy cows (link)
“Evidence of efficacy of homeopathic treatment beyond placebo was not found in this study”

Homeopathic Arnica 30x is ineffective for muscle soreness after long-distance running (link)
“Homeopathic Arnica 30x is ineffective for muscle soreness following long-distance running”
I just had to include this. not often the conclusion and title are identical :)

The evidence for homeopathy

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

Recently in a “discussion” with a homeopath, I’ve been asking for documentation that homeopathy actually works. In the references I got, even the studies that claim even a small effect of homeopathic medicine, also point out methodological weaknesses and flaws of the studies. If this is the best studies homeopaths can point to, it’s nothing short of pathetic.

The title of the studies are in bold, to find the study just google the title and you’ll find it on pubmed. You should also read the whole article if available (especially the findings, conclusion and discussion parts are fun).

Homeopathy for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder or hyperkinetic disorder
MAIN RESULTS: The forms of homeopathy evaluated to date do not suggest significant treatment effects for the global symptoms, core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity, or related outcomes such as anxiety in Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Evidence of clinical efficacy of homeopathy. A meta-analysis of clinical trials. HMRAG. Homeopathic Medicines Research Advisory Group
CONCLUSIONS: There is some evidence that homeopathic treatments are more effective than placebo; however, the strength of this evidence is low because of the low methodological quality of the trials. Studies of high methodological quality were more likely to be negative than the lower quality studies.

A critical overview of homeopathy
some randomized, placebo-controlled trials and laboratory research report unexpected effects of homeopathic medicines.However, the evidence on the effectiveness of homeopathy for specific clinical conditions is scant, is of uneven quality, and is generally poorer quality than research done in allopathic medicine

Clinical trials of homeopathy. British Medical Journal
CONCLUSIONS: At the moment the evidence of clinical trials is positive but not sufficient to draw definitive conclusions because most trials are of low methodological quality and because of the unknown role of publication bias

Are the clinical effects of homeopathy placebo effects? A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials
INTERPRETATION: The results of our meta-analysis are not compatible with the hypothesis that the clinical effects of homeopathy are completely due to placebo. However, we found insufficient evidence from these studies that homeopathy is clearly efficacious for any single clinical condition.

The conclusions on the effectiveness of homeopathy highly depend on the set of analyzed trials
CONCLUSIONS: Our results do neither prove that homeopathic medicines are superior to placebo nor do they prove the opposite. This, of course, was never our intention.

Are the clinical effects of homoeopathy placebo effects? Comparative study of placebo-controlled trials of homoeopathy and allopathy
INTERPRETATION: there was weak evidence for a specific effect of homoeopathic remedies, but strong evidence for specific effects of conventional interventions. This finding is compatible with the notion that the clinical effects of homoeopathy are placebo effects.

A randomised, controlled, triple-blind trial of the efficacy of homeopathic treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome
CONCLUSIONS: There is weak but equivocal evidence that the effects of homeopathic medicine are superior to placebo. Results also suggest that there may be nonspecific benefits from the homeopathic consultation. Further studies are needed to determine whether these differences hold in larger sample

How healthy are chronically ill patients after eight years of homeopathic treatment?
Our findings demonstrate that patients who seek homeopathic treatment are likely to improve considerably, although this effect must not be attributed to homeopathic treatment alone.
“The aim of this study, however, was not to test the effectiveness of homeopathic drug treatment”

Bad Cereal Science

Thursday, January 13th, 2011

I noticed this morning that my cereal box has the following claim on it:
“A study shows that 8 out of 10 who eats Kellogg’s All-Bran at least 3 times a week experience better  digestion*”.

“*Source: Nordic study based on 643 respondents (who eats Kellogg’s All-Bran at least 3 times per week). The Nielsen Company 2007.”

This claim is reiterated on the Norwegian site, but the US site makes no such claims. (googling for “Kellogg’s health claims” might explain why).

Now, when making a health claim one would usually (unless you’re a homeopath, faith healer, acupuncturist, chiropractor, aura cleanser, can shoot rainbows out of your tummy, etc..) back up that claim with good scientific evidence, in other words you can show to a collection of scientifically valid experiments/studies.

This so called study as described above certainly raises a couple of red flags, and I suspect this “study” is of extremely poor quality, or maybe even be just a simple poll (not a scientific study at all).

Of course being a curious fella I sent the following mail to Kellogg’s:

Regarding the study being referred to on the All-Bran packaging and the website (http://www.allbran.no), carried out by The Nielsen company 2007.

  1. How may I obtain a copy of this study?
  2. How did the selection of participants for the study take place?
  3. What’s the distribution of participants between the different nordic countries, age composition and sex composition?
  4. What where the criteria for participant selection?
  5. Which questions where used, and how were the answers quantified?
  6. Of the 643 persons referred to in the study, how big a part of the total participants in the study do these represent?
  7. Is the data collected only based on self reporting of the daily intake of All-Bra, and the self reporting of the perceived increase in digestive function?
  8. Which methods were used to account for the  placebo effect?

I’ll update this post when I get a reply :)

Fun at the dentist

Saturday, December 13th, 2008

I was at the dentist last Friday, in what was my quickest visit ever.. One of the fillings had come loose, and getting it out and setting a new one only took like 15 minutes. Which included a nice anesthesia which went straight to my nose.

This was probably my favorite dentist appointment ever, not only was it remarkably quick, I didn’t have to pay anything :) It seems the filling that came loose was put there about a year ago by the same dentist, who was quite puzzled at why it failed.

Anyway, if you live in Trondheim I would highly recommend this dentist, Thorleif Weie at Tannlege Weie, I’ve had LOTS of work done here. (And the fillings usually stay put, I have enough of them to back up that statement statistically if need be)

In Soviet Trondheim, road hits YOU!

Monday, July 14th, 2008

Hehe, I was just on my way to my first hour of motorcycle driving practice. I was driving my scooter, and I was driving reasonably slow, maybe  around 20-25 km/h (although, in hindsight.. I should PERHAPS have driven even slower) :)

Anyway, as I’m about to exit a roundabout, the rear wheel looses it’s grip and the scooter starts sliding sideways. oh, did I mention it was raining? well, it was and that roundabout was unbelievably slippery.

So there I was, sliding sideways knowing all to well what was about to happen, and as the crablike movement of the scooter slowed it down, the rear tire finally got a hold of the road again. This of course made the scooter throw me off like the angry little plastic pony it is.

Terrible traffic accident
“Artist” rendering of the accident.

So I flew trough the air about a meter or two, hit the road elbow first.  Luckily the Road broke my fall, and seeing that I was wearing a full motorcycle dress, I could just get up and drive on.

I actually seem to recall a tiny voice inside my head going “Wheeeee!” in mid air,

The results of this interesting experience is:

  • A small scratch on the helmet
  • A bruised elbow
  • A little less paint and plastic on the scooter
  • The deformation of the forward brake handle.

I feel a bit soar on the right elbow, hip, and upper chest, but otherwise I’m fine.. Sitting in the couch watching Macgyver like I’m supposed to, Just 2 more episodes left and I can start on season 4 :)

Pinky lost her junk!

Thursday, June 12th, 2008

Pinky was to the vet Tuesday and was neutered. So any chances she ever had of becoming a ferretmom just became infinitesimal. She is still a bit dozy from the operation and sleeps alot, but she should be back to her good old self in a couple of days.

Her tummy was shaved, and there are like 3 stitches :)

Hopefully her fur will somewhat grow back before the Nidarosildern Ferret show here in trondheim :)

Alive again

Tuesday, March 6th, 2007

After a grueling week of influenza I almost feel like myself again.

I saved up enough strength to play the two tutorial missions last week, got 2 hours of gameplay before I had to go to bed. But now that I’m all better I can try out the skirmish mode when I get home from work. The stuff from the two missions look really nice, and with Michael Ironside (Starship troopers), Tricia Helfer & Grace Park (both from Battlestar Galactica) in the game cinematics, this should be pretty interesting. The game is released in Norway around 29th or March, and since I’m moving on April 1st. this means I wont be able to preorder the game by mail.. Hope I still get my hands on the Kane Edition, maybe I should go to a store and reserve a copy today.. damn.. It just occurred to me that I wont have any time to play the game since we have to move all my stuff.. gaaaagh!

I haven’t had the flu since I was in primary school, and it was much worse than I could remember.. I was looking forward to just lay on the couch a few days and watch TV, but it was really uncomfortable and I was pretty much unable to watch TV or operate a computer :(

At least Stacy got sick as well (misery really DO love company), but I don’t think Nemi got it, which is a consolation of sorts. Maybe it’s because that little furry vermin eats much better(healthier) than us and maybe got a better immune system :)

aaanyway.. Season ending of heroes should be “available” today, got to see how that turns out.. Seems UFO:ET has been postponed, but 16. April is not that far away, I’ll probably be to busy moving and playing C&C 3 to notice :)

Farewell cruel world!

Tuesday, February 27th, 2007

This post contains descriptions of my terrible plight, it is not recommended reading for the very young or those of you with a heart condition. It contains extensive whining.
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It is I, Leclerc..

Monday, February 19th, 2007

goddammit, I managed to catch a cold.

Not that having a cold is THAT bad, I just get pretty hazy and dizzy which mean I’m not going to do much good as a programmer.

Also being home from work is not so fun as it might sound.. Just finished Far Cry and have no games to play (why couldn’t I get sick AFTER Silent hunter 4 or C&C 3?).

Me and Stacy also watch practically every tv-series worth watching together.. which means I don’t have much to choose from when doing solo-watching. Only things I can watch without watching something I’ve seen 3-8 times before is either the A-team or ‘Allo ‘Allo!, and honestly none of these tempts me at the moment :(

My tooth, Oh, the humanity!!!

Thursday, February 15th, 2007

My tooth is in need of root canal treatment :(

I’m home from work today, because every time I sit down (or god forbid, LAY down) my tooth starts hurting like hell.

All I can do basically is to just stand in my living room and watch TV or play some Playstation II, or maybe I should use the newly cleaned kitchen table to play some D&D miniatures against Nemi (the ferret).. or maybe I should rig up something so that I can stand and get some painting done on my Dark Elf army..

Fortunately I got an appointment with my dentist tomorrow, but until then it sucks to be me, as all my favorite activities involves sitting down :/

Update:
You hear bad stuff about getting a root canal, horrible stories that will turn your soul black.. Fortunately that’s all bullshit, getting a root canal did not hurt at all (I love drugs, drugs are your friend), all in all it was not much different from getting a regular cavity fixed.

Also I found a really great dentist, Thorleif Weie at Tannlege Weie, so if anyone in Trondheim needs a good dentist, I highly recommend him