A reader claims: 'Plant-based eaters had exactly a 10 per cent lower risk after all factors were controlled.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: Plant-based diets)
A large study followed 70,000 adults for eleven years and found that those who ate mainly plant-based diets had a 10 per cent lower risk of heart disease than those who ate meat daily. The researchers adjusted for age, smoking and exercise. They noted, however, that people choosing plant-based diets often have higher incomes and better access to healthcare, factors that were only partly measured. The authors therefore describe the result as consistent with a protective effect rather than proof of one.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. False
- Step 1: Examine 'all factors'. Step 2. Not all factors were controlled, and the 10 per cent is described with caveats. Answer: False. Why not the others: Sample size does not control factors; a figure is given; the risk was lower.
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