Adenosine Triphosphate

Alternate-Day Fasting (ADF)

Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI)

Dietary acid load

A food’s acid load represents its content in acidifying and alkalizing nutrients. Whether a food’s acid load can affect our blood pH (or our health in general) is a topic of controversy.

Meta-analysis

A meta-analysis is usually produced as part of a systematic review. It combines the numerical results from several studies into an average number. Studies that differ too much in design cannot be properly meta-analyzed.

Multiple comparisons

The more outcomes a study measures, the greater the chance that at least one outcome will show a change, “proving” that the intervention had an effect. When a study doesn't adjust for multiple comparisons, its statistically significant results are less trustworthy.

p-value

The p-value is a number between 0 and 1 that indicates how surprising a study's results would be if there was actually no effect. The lower the value, the more reason you have to suspect the results are "real", as long as the study and statistical analyses are well-designed.

Randomized controlled trial

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for determining whether an intervention actually causes any effects. The use of randomization and control groups helps eliminate the effects of factors other than the treatment being studied.

Sample Glossary

Statistical significance

A p-value is statistically significant if it falls below a (somewhat arbitrary) threshold called a significance level, which is traditionally set at 0.05. Statistical significance suggests that the data aren’t explained well by the null hypothesis — the assumption that the intervention (or variable) being studied actually makes no difference to the outcome you’re studying. If the results are statistically significant, you can reject the null hypothesis and conclude that there actually is a difference.

Systematic review

A systematic review is a review and summary of the scientific evidence on a given topic. It uses a systematic approach so as to minimize bias and be reproducible by other researchers.