History has shown that without explicit and enforced guidelines even well-intentioned researchers can fail to adequately examine the ethical pros and cons of study design choices. Leigh Frame, PhD, MHS, director for the Integrative Medicine Program at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, led the team of researchers who highlight that fact in a review published in the journal Nutrients that identified problems and suggested solutions to ethical issues in vitamin D research involving the use of placebos.
“We developed this review with the goal of raising awareness and starting a discussion about the potential ethical issues behind study design,” said Dr. Frame. “When it comes to ethics in supplementation research, we have gotten comfortable with following the standards. Our team is questioning if the standards are actually enough.”
Recently, she joined the Vitafoods Insights Podcast to talk about taking a more nuanced approach to the use of placebo in clinical trials, particularly in vulnerable populations, the need to establish and enforce guidelines for ethics in supplementation research for the use of placebo control groups, and how vitamin D research can can be a leading example as the field of supplementation research continues to grow.
About GW's Integrative Medicine Programs
Through its Integrative Medicine Programs, the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) offers unique opportunities for health care professionals to enhance their education with three online programs in Integrative Medicine: a Fellowship, Master of Science in Health Sciences (MSHS), and Graduate Certificate. Developed in collaboration with leading practitioners of INTM, these programs provide a perspective frequently lacking in typical medical curricula. The programs teach students to understand the importance of blending technologic advances in medicine with an individualized touch. Learning how to balance treating disease with wellness care in an evidence-based practice is an important aspect of our programs.
