Adenosine Triphosphate

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the “energy currency” of all living things. The body creates ATP through the breakdown of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins to supply the energy needed for muscle contraction, nerve conduction, and several other physiological processes.

Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI)

The Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) was developed to expand on the Healthy Eating Index, which tracks how well Americans’ diets conform to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It takes into consideration the types of fat, forms of carbohydrates, and sources of protein.

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.

Dietary Inflammatory Index

The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) is a model that attempts to predict the inflammatory potential of the diet. It assigns points to components of the diet, giving positive scores to proposed inflammatory components (e.g. trans fat, saturated fat, calories) and negative points to proposed anti-inflammatory components (e.g. omega-3s, green/black tea, fiber, and vitamins C, E, and D).

Eucaloric Diet

A eucaloric diet is one in which a person's energy consumption matches their energy expenditure. Over time, a eucaloric diet is expected to produce no change in bodyweight.

HOMA-IR

The Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) is a measure of insulin resistance. A low HOMA-IR means that the body is sensitive to insulin and is able to manage blood sugar. A high HOMA-IR indicates that the body is resistant to insulin and may not be able to manage blood sugar levels effectively.

Hypercaloric Diet

A hypercaloric diet is one in which a person's energy consumption exceeds their energy expenditure. Over time, a hypercaloric diet is expected to produce an increase in bodyweight.

Hypocaloric Diet

A hypocaloric diet is one in which a person's energy consumption is less their energy expenditure. Over time, a hypocaloric diet is expected to produce a reduction in bodyweight.

Macronutrients

Macronutrients are dietary elements that are required in large quantities to generate energy and build biological structures. In humans, macronutrients refer specifically to carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

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.

Micronutrient

Micronutrients are dietary elements that are required in small amounts to support a wide variety of biological processes and functions. In humans, micronutrients generally refer to vitamins and dietary minerals such as vitamin D, folic acid, iron, or magnesium.

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.

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.

Glossary

Glossary