The contribution of epidemiology to nutrition science. Issue 3 (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wiseman, M.
• Is Part Of: Nutrition bulletin. Volume 42:Issue 3(2017:Sep.)
• Page Start: 212
• Page End: 218
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: cancer -- cardiovascular disease -- epidemiology -- nutrition -- obesity -- type 2 diabetes; Nutrition -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1111/nbu.12276
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-9827

Abstract

Abstract: Epidemiology is the study of the distribution of the occurrence and causes of disease. The non‐random distribution of the incidence of diseases, and factors associated with them, gives clues both to their causation and to possibilities of prevention. While an understanding of the biological processes that underpin associations can be useful in ascribing causality, it is not essential, nor necessary for developing preventive options. Epidemiology is essentially an observational discipline and therefore does not have the advantages of randomised experimental studies of avoiding confounding and other problems relating to measurement, in particular relating to diet and nutrition status. However, epidemiologic studies do have advantages of observing hard outcomes in typical populations over decades, which is valuable when exploring aetiology of chronic non‐communicable diseases. Nutritional epidemiology has been the main basis for understanding the causes and potential prevention of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. When better integrated with in vitro and in vivo experimental data from humans and animals, nutritional epidemiology will remain a critical tool in the armoury for understanding the causes of disease, and offer targets for prevention.