Author Archives: dvnutrix
Patrick Holford, YorkTest and a Migraine Study
Former Visiting Professor Patrick Holford but still Head of Science and Education at Biocare has an enthusiasm for interventions that we wish we might share but, too frequently, when we examine the studies on which he relies, the results do … Continue reading
Filed under food intolerance, IgG tests, intolerance, patrick holford, yorktest
Oxford University, Food for the Brain, Alzheimer’s Disease and a Curious Test
The People’s Medical Journal (aka Daily Mail) has a touching faith in the value of early diagnosis and screening tests. It would be rather charming to note that their history of being wrong has not as yet reduced them to … Continue reading
Filed under Alzheimer's, Food for the brain, patrick holford
Patrick Holford: Why Did BBC Oxford Radio Give Him Free Advertising?
BBC Radio Oxford broadcast an infomercial for Patrick Holford’s books and his commercial diet programme. They did not invite any experts to discuss his diet or claims, question whether the ‘free diet trial’ involved purchasing supplements or blood tests, nor ask for detail of the ‘science’ that he claims supports his advice. Continue reading
Filed under GL diet, glycaemic load, glycemic load, Low GL Diet, patrick holford, supplements, yorktest
Joanna Blythman: Please Read the Data Appendices About Organic Food Before Conjuring ‘Cancerous Conspiracies’: Part 1
Joanna Blythman and the Soil Association accuse the Food Standards Agency of ignoring the statistics in its own review for differences in nutrient levels between organic and conventionally produced food. We suggest, respectfully, that Blythman and the Soil Association are wrong and refer them to the original data. Continue reading
Filed under Current events, nutrition
A Tale of Two WorkForces in the Same Workplace: Different Rules for Dietitians and Nutritionists in the NHS?
The case of Katie Peck casts an interesting sidelight on the issue that, very soon, if nutritional therapists are employed by the NHS, then there is no mechanism for challenging them for dispensing the sort of advice that might lead to a hearing before the Health Professions Council if it were given by a Registered Dietician. How would this not lead to confusion for patients? Continue reading
Filed under patrick holford, supplements
Jerome Burne and Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy: Part 3
We look at Jerome Burne’s evidence for the suggestion that bioidentical hormones may be protective against breast cancer and heart disease while offering promise of neuroprotective function. There is no strong evidence as yet that bio-identical hormones out-perform all progestins and some of these claims may be premature. Continue reading
Filed under Jerome Burne
Jerome Burne and Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy: Part 2
Jerome Burne relies upon a review of the efficacy and safety of bio-identical hormones by Dr Kent Holtorf. HolfordWatch has some concerns about the quality and coverage of this review. Continue reading
Science: So What Is Recruiting a Dialogue Manager
Science: So What is recruiting a Dialogue Manager for the social media wing of its campaign. Continue reading
Filed under Uncategorized
Jerome Burne and Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy: Part 1
Jerome Burne questions whether middle-aged women should be taking bio-identical hormones in preference to HRT. He relies upon a review of bio-identical hormones which is selective, over-extrapolates the evidence and for which the author does not state of conflict of interest although he has a clinic that specialises in bio-identical hormone replacement. Continue reading
Filed under Jerome Burne
Patrick Holford, Shark Liver Oil and Walnuts
Holford over-extrapolates the evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis to support his own, inconsistently-expressed views on nuts and seeds; neglects to mention appropriate caveats; is currently premature in promoting squalene as a “cancer preventive”; makes inappropriate comparisons of the ORAC values of substances that have very different water percentages (let’s overlook the issue of the relevance of ORACs for now); and perpetuates the familiar, embarrassing nutritionism assertion concerning the awesome nutrient power of nuts and seeds. Continue reading
Filed under dietitian, nutrition, patrick holford
