Running Nutrition; What is the Research Saying?
In our Podcast episodes we often quote research and this is because we believe it’s vital that the information, we share is evidence-based alongside giving you our own personal views.
So, here we explain a little bit more about the different types of research papers we access, the scientists we follow, and WHY we trust their views.
We outline the different research paper sources available and give you an understanding of the PURPOSE of the different types of study papers before discussing some of the ones we access and trust.
Show Notes
(08:00)
There are many research styles, however the ones we most commonly quote include:
Primary research – is solely carried out to address a certain problem, which requires in-depth analysis. This type of research is “pinpointed” i.e. research is carried around only a specific issue or problem and all the focus is directed to obtain related solutions e.g. mouth rinsing with CHO and its potential impact on sports performance.
Position Stands - Position Stands tend to be official documents, developed using a specified evidence-based methodology, on significant societal issues that merit interdisciplinary consideration and consensus e.g. International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) Position Stand: Caffeine and Performance
Joint Position Statements - Joint Position Statements are similar to Position Stands, but are developed in conjunction with at least one other not-for-profit organisation or governmental agency. E.g. Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the overtraining syndrome: Joint consensus statement of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
Consensus Statements – are documents developed by an independent panel of experts, usually multidisciplinary, brought together to review the research literature for the purpose of advancing the understanding of an issue, procedure, or method e.g. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) consensus Statement: Beyond the Female Athlete Triad—Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)
Systematic/Cochrane Reviews and Meta-analyses –These are carried out in an effort to ensure decisions about health and health care are informed by high-quality, relevant and up-to-date research evidence. These bodies collate all the recent and relevant papers on a subject to review and decide whether there is sufficient evidence to suggest the research outcomes could support health and health-care.
(13:34)
There are lots of different types of research available, but what is their PURPOSE? Let’s delve a little deeper and try to answer this question. But firstly, just as an overview: All research methods, whether traditional or modern, fall into one of two categories: Primary research or secondary research.
Primary research is information gathered through self-conducted research methods, as we have already mentioned, whilst secondary research is information gathered from previously conducted studies.
Now let’s delve into the purpose of the different styles of research carried out:
Position Stands and Joint Position Statements (secondary research): Their purpose is to serve as authoritative and influential, evidence-based statements on topics of relevance to those working in whatever field the statement is supporting e.g. for us it would be the field of exercise science and sports medicine. The Position Stands and Joint Statements we tend to source come from highly regarded and well-respected...
