Article Review Maternal Nutrition (conception nutrition)/fertility & nutrition
Directions: Find one original scientific nutrition paper on the assigned topic (topics you can choose from are listed above for each review) published in the last five years. There are many topics possibly chosen for each review. For example, for article #1, you can choose any research study that has to do with any nutrient, dietary issue, etc. having to do with conception/fertility. The paper must report the findings of one singular research study. It cannot be a meta-analysis, research brief or review. The appropriate research paper would be sectioned by the abstract, introduction, methods, statistical analysis, results, etc. The study could involve animals or people. Your articles should only come from peer reviewed journals. It is suggested that students search for research papers using the Milner Library sources provided on Reggienet (Gabby’s video & pdf)
Since you are reviewing only one research article, it is not necessary to cite the article throughout. Just provide the article reference information in APA at the end of the paper.
To get a quick idea if the research study is of interest to you, read the abstract of the paper first to see if it is appropriate. If it is too difficult to understand, you may want to select another paper. The point of this exercise is to learn how to read, interpret and evaluate literature. If the research is too advanced, choose another article.
Include a title. Begin with a short introductory paragraph. After the introductory paragraph, separate the sections of your paper with the subheadings, “Summary”, “Critique”, and “References” (see Gabby’s sample article review). Since you are reviewing only one research article, it is not necessary to cite the article throughout. Just provide the article reference information in APA at the end of the paper.
Summary: In your summary section, briefly summarize the findings of the original research paper in your own words. In this section you are not making any evaluating judgments but merely summarizing.
- Indicate what type of study was conducted: for example, was it an animal model, epidemiological or a clinical interventional study? If interventional, was it randomized controlled, and/or double blind? It is suggested you go back and review the pdf I posted on analyzing nutrition information at the beginning of the semester (the one that was covered on quiz #1).
- Indicate how many animals or human subjects were involved.
- Indicate whether the study was multi-regional (performed at multiple centers in different geographic regions) and where the study was performed.
- Describe the methods, results and conclusions of the paper.
Critique: In the critique section, you are reflecting on the study’s findings and evaluating the quality of evidence based on the criteria below. In this section you are not summarizing. Rather you are giving your opinion on whether the findings in the research paper are valid and relevant. You must support your opinions by describing the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence.
- Is the study free from a conflict of interest? Note how the study was funded and who conducted the study. For instance, if a vitamin manufacturer conducts and funds a study about the effectiveness of it vitamins then it has a conflict of interest since it is selling the vitamins.
- Are the study’s conclusions supported by its results? Is the type of study the best type that could be conducted (Multi-regional, randomized-controlled, double blind, clinical intervention studies give the highest quality of evidence but are not always feasible)?
- Are the results supported by statistical analysis and if so were the results statistically significant? Did the study involve very small numbers (less than 30 in each group)?
- Briefly explain whether you feel the evidence presented in the paper you chose sufficiently answers the question or issue you investigated or whether further research is needed.
