Our Review Summary
This piece reports on an unpublished, observational study, which found that daughters of mothers who reported a high intake of vitamin D while pregnant have a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). This story has numerous flaws, the biggest of which was relying exclusively on the press release. Two other major flaws were not including the caveat that this research has yet to undergo peer review and not explaining the limitations of such an observational study.
Why This Matters
News stories should use caution when reporting on research presented at scientific meetings. The results are generally preliminary and can change. Furthermore, it has not undergone a rigorous review process to make sure the evidence is sound. In short, the research might not be ready for primetime.
Criteria
Not Applicable
A discussion of cost is not necessary on this topic in this context.
Not Satisfactory
We don’t know if any of the mothers who reported a high intake of vitamin D experienced adverse effects; however, it’s worthwhile to mention that excessive intake of vitamin D supplements is associated with harms, including nausea, vomiting, constipation, and weakness. Additionally, information about how to safely get enough sun exposure to convert vitamin D to its active form would have been helpful.
Not Satisfactory
This story failed to point out the limitations of having the mothers answer questions about their diets during pregnancy many, many years after the fact. The story also should have emphasized that only daughters were included the study, and it’s unclear whether this same protective effect would be seen in males.
Furthermore, the story mentions that the researchers will present these findings at the upcoming American Academy of Neurology’s meeting, but does not explicitly state that the research has yet to be published in a medical journal. Unlike published articles, this study has not gone through a rigorous review process.
Satisfactory
This story did not exaggerate the prevalence or seriousness of MS.
Not Satisfactory
No independent experts were interviewed for this story.
Satisfactory
There was no mention of vitamin D supplements, but the story discussed main sources of the vitamin, including milk, fish, fortified foods, and sunlight.
Satisfactory
The story lists common sources of vitamin D, all of which are widely available.
Satisfactory
The story indicates that other studies have found a link between vitamin D and MS.
Total Score: 4 of 9 Satisfactory
Comments
Please note, comments are no longer published through this website. All previously made comments are still archived and available for viewing through select posts.
Our Comments Policy
But before leaving a comment, please review these notes about our policy.
You are responsible for any comments you leave on this site.
This site is primarily a forum for discussion about the quality (or lack thereof) in journalism or other media messages (advertising, marketing, public relations, medical journals, etc.) It is not intended to be a forum for definitive discussions about medicine or science.
We will delete comments that include personal attacks, unfounded allegations, unverified claims, product pitches, profanity or any from anyone who does not list a full name and a functioning email address. We will also end any thread of repetitive comments. We don”t give medical advice so we won”t respond to questions asking for it.
We don”t have sufficient staffing to contact each commenter who left such a message. If you have a question about why your comment was edited or removed, you can email us at feedback@healthnewsreview.org.
There has been a recent burst of attention to troubles with many comments left on science and science news/communication websites. Read “Online science comments: trolls, trash and treasure.”
The authors of the Retraction Watch comments policy urge commenters:
We”re also concerned about anonymous comments. We ask that all commenters leave their full name and provide an actual email address in case we feel we need to contact them. We may delete any comment left by someone who does not leave their name and a legitimate email address.
And, as noted, product pitches of any sort – pushing treatments, tests, products, procedures, physicians, medical centers, books, websites – are likely to be deleted. We don”t accept advertising on this site and are not going to give it away free.
The ability to leave comments expires after a certain period of time. So you may find that you’re unable to leave a comment on an article that is more than a few months old.
You might also like