Your precocious 11 year old niece is visiting you for the weekend. When she gets up on Saturday morning and sits at the breakfast table you give her a glass of milk.She says she would rather have coffee.What do you do?

There is a history of severe osteoporosis in the family.

Fact: Milk is rich in vitamin D and calcium.

Supposition: Drinking milk will reduce osteoporosis and consequently fracture incidence.

Michaëlsson K, Wolk A, Langenskiöld S, Basu S, Warensjö Lemming E, Melhus H, Byberg L. Milk intake and risk of mortality and fractures in women and men: cohort studies. BMJ. 2014 Oct 28;349

Rather than showing a decrease in fractures, this study observed an increased risk of fracture and an increased risk of mortality in woman who drank 3 or more glasses of milk a day as compared to those who drank less than 1.

OK….Maybe you won’t insist on her drinking her milk.

Would you let her have coffee?

Crippa A, Discacciati A, Larsson SC, Wolk A, Orsini N. Coffee consumption and mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer: a dose-response meta-analysis. Am J Epidemiol. 2014 Oct 15;180(8):763-75

3 or 4 cups of coffee a day was associated with reduced all-cause mortality and reduced cardiovascular disease.

Is coffee the healthy alternative to milk?

To make decisions based on the evidence provided…

• Understand the strengths and weaknesses of cohort studies

• Understand a bit about measures of association• Have a grasp of the levels of evidence of the studies

used in the meta-analysis• Understand the populations studied and their application

to this particular situation

Evidence is never enough!

Research evidence…

• Will challenge our assumptions• Is relevant in day to day situations• Can alter our view of the world

This was taken from the blog “Research – It’s Not Just for Scientists Anymore.”

Contributors include:• Dana Lawrence• Robert Vining• John Stites• Robert Cooperstein• Christine Goertz

“Our heads are round so thought can change

direction.”Allen Ginsburg