Holford Watch: Patrick Holford, nutritionism and bad science

Prof Patrick Holford has a good slug of publicity in current press releases about a food survey of school children. Holford Watch had been wondering what the correct designation for his visiting professorship is and today we learned that he is a Visiting Professor of Mental Health and Nutrition. Prof Paul Keane of the University of Teesside was quick to emphasise that Holford’s appointment is with the School of Social Sciences and Law.

He has not been Conferred with the title of Visiting Professor in Nutrition. He has no association with the School of Health [and] Social Care and in particular, the Institute of Health Sciences and Social Care Research which is led by Professor Carolyn Summerbell, Professor in Nutrition and Assistant Dean for Research.

Sadly, of course, there is no room for such nuance in press releases or media stories. I fear that it will be impossible for those Teesside academics with a sound training and foundation in nutrition to dissociate Holford from themselves and their well-respected institute. It is extraordinary how much benefit will accrue to Holford and the value of his brand from this appointment yet the Uni of Teesside seems to be gaining so little.

The indefatigable Prof Colquhoun obtained a copy of the case for support; this mentions the possibility of collaborating with people who, on the basis of the above quoted email, don’t seem to be uniformly enthusiastic about the idea of collaborating with him.

Patrick Holford’s appointment would also benefit the Psychology subject group more widely by providing a support and a focus for the development of the work of Dr Jonathon Reay, who is developing a strong research record in psychology and nutrition and opens up possibilities for working with the School of Health. Additionally, he could teach some department courses on the subject of nutritional/biochemical effects on behavioural/psychological conditions whilst other course and research opportunities would be explored. [Emphasis added.]

Just in case it seems as if Reay’s enthusiasm for working with Holford is evidence for warm feelings among the School of Health, it may not be. It seems as if Reay is a member of the School of Social Sciences and Law (pdf) having gained his PhD in 2007 from the Human Cognitive Neuroscience Unit as part of the School of Psychology and Sports Sciences at Northumbria University (judging by his publications list). Reay’s publications, as indexed in Entrez PubMed, explore the impact of ginseng supplementation on a variety of people. Interesting, but hardly evidence of extensive research into psychology and nutrition when all of Reay’s existing papers seem to be about a single ginseng product (Korean Panax ginseng G115).

For the other part, Holford will probably experience a useful upswing in the value of his brand as a result of this appointment. One might imagine that both Biocare and his new publishers are delighted with such an ostensibly prestigious appointment. It is such a poor exchange for Teesside that one has to wonder what the conferment committee were thinking when they confirmed this appointment on such flimsy evidence.

We are unclear as to whether Holford will be lecturing to students of the School of Social Sciences and Law at Teesside or if students from other schools are also expected to listen to somebody who has a poor grasp of even the year in which he graduated which considerably reduces the extent of his time as a student with Hoffer and Pfeiffer. Holford Watch is trying to establish just how long Holford spent with them before beginning to treat “mental health patients” (as per his CV and other sources): this is important as this period of study seems to be the foundation for many of his later claims for clinical experience when working with clients.

On a lighter note, any such students would also be listening to a lecturer with special insight into human psychology who cites Dr John Marks as an endorsement when Marks seems to rue the day that he ever passed a comment on Holford’s work. Maybe taking supplements for a brass neck somehow dulls your emotional sensitivity and otherwise upsets your barometer for such nuances and judgements.

More as we know it.