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If a company finances a study on one of its products, the results are always in its favor. Here is an important interpretation of scientific works: if a company pays for the research, the results on that company’s products are invariably positive. The only negative results are assigned to products that aren’t sponsored. The implications for people’s health choices are great and dangerous
The study published in the last few days on PLoS( Lesser LI et al, PLoS 2007 Jan 9;4(1):e5 [Epub ahead of print]) was significant and dramatic. The goal of the study was to analyze the effect of financial backing of a scientific research, even in the field of soft drinks, so as to understand the possible influence of the "investment" on the final result.
In practical terms, of the 206 products that were analyzed, 111 declared, as required, the financial backing of one or another company or institution. Of the studies that were sponsored by a food company, as many as 0 %( none, that is) of the products had negative results.
The differential rate in the results between sponsored articles and non-sponsored ones was equal to 7, 61 (odds ratio). This means that in equivalent scientific studies, financial backing leads to favorable results 7, 61 times more than to unfavorable ones.
If we transfer this data to a practical, clinical application, this means that when we say that science has proven that what we are eating is good for us, we can't be so sure of science or of the food.
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