Strengths and weaknesses of observational nutritional studies

Abstract

Observational studies, which are often performed, play a meaningful role in nutritional research. They provide the best answers to questions regarding prevalence, prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment harms. Moreover, they generate hypotheses and prompt further, adequately designed research. However, despite their many advantages, observational nutritional studies have important limitations. These are factors that are strictly bound to the specific study design, nutrition-related, or performance-quality dependent. Potential advantages and disadvantages determine each study's strengths and weaknesses. Thus, knowledge of these advantages and disadvantages is crucial for proper planning, satisfactory study performance, and reasonable interpretation of the results.