Importance of adequate sample sizes in fatty acid intervention trials

Abstract Randomised controlled trials are the ideal way to assess the effects of interventions. Small trials are useful for generating pilot data to determine samples sizes for larger trials, but can produce unreliable or biased results if they are considered in their own right. We investigate the i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Prostaglandins, leukotrienes and essential fatty acids leukotrienes and essential fatty acids, 2016-04, Vol.107, p.8-11
Main Authors: Yelland, Lisa N, Makrides, Maria, McPhee, Andrew J, Quinlivan, Julie, Gibson, Robert A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Advanced Basic Science
Dietary Supplements
Docosahexaenoic acid
Double-Blind Method
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Fatty Acids - administration & dosage
Female
Humans
Lost to follow-up
Multicenter Studies as Topic
Pregnancy
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Research design
Sample Size
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Summary:Abstract Randomised controlled trials are the ideal way to assess the effects of interventions. Small trials are useful for generating pilot data to determine samples sizes for larger trials, but can produce unreliable or biased results if they are considered in their own right. We investigate the impact of small sample sizes due either to inadequate recruitment targets or high attrition rates on the results of fatty acid intervention trials. Data from our large trial of DHA supplementation during pregnancy with minimal attrition are used for illustration. Our findings demonstrate that recruiting fewer participants or neglecting to follow up difficult participants can lead to substantially different results and alter conclusions about the effectiveness of the intervention. Developing strategies for overcoming these inadequacies should be a top priority in fatty acid intervention trials.
ISSN:0952-3278
1532-2823
DOI:10.1016/j.plefa.2016.02.003