Tag

Randomized Trials

All articles tagged with #randomized trials

Big Review Finds No Benefit of Medicinal Cannabis for Depression or Anxiety
health17 days ago

Big Review Finds No Benefit of Medicinal Cannabis for Depression or Anxiety

A Lancet meta-analysis of 54 randomized trials over 45 years found no solid evidence that medicinal cannabis improves anxiety, depression, or PTSD. While there are weak signals for some other conditions (epilepsy in certain forms, MS symptoms, and pain), the overall evidence quality is low. Potential harms include psychotic symptoms and increased risk of cannabis use disorder, and using cannabis could delay more effective treatments. The study also highlights regulatory concerns amid widespread medical cannabis use for mental-health symptoms.

Large review finds medicinal cannabis rarely aids mental health and raises side-effect risk
health17 days ago

Large review finds medicinal cannabis rarely aids mental health and raises side-effect risk

A comprehensive analysis of 54 randomized trials (2,477 participants) finds medicinal cannabis provides little to no benefit for depression, anxiety, PTSD and other mental health disorders, while adverse effects are about 75% more likely. Some signals for cannabis use disorder, insomnia, Tourette’s, and autistic traits were noted but of low quality. The researchers caution against routine medicinal cannabis for mental health, noting it can delay proven treatments, and acknowledge cannabis has established benefits for epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and certain types of pain.

The bold promise of multi-cancer blood tests hits real-world limits
health1 month ago

The bold promise of multi-cancer blood tests hits real-world limits

Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) blood tests, including Galleri, promise to detect dozens of cancers from one blood sample, but few have robust randomized trial data; the NHS-backed Galleri trial failed to show improved outcomes in reducing late-stage cancers, and while tests boast high specificity, sensitivity varies and the risk of false positives can lead to anxiety and unnecessary follow-ups, leaving regulators and clinicians cautious until stronger evidence accumulates.

Large Review Finds Oral Collagen Can Improve Skin Firmness and Hydration
health1 month ago

Large Review Finds Oral Collagen Can Improve Skin Firmness and Hydration

An umbrella review of 16 systematic reviews and 113 randomized trials (nearly 8,000 participants) shows that oral hydrolyzed collagen supplements are associated with firmer, more hydrated skin, with stronger effects the longer you take them, and may also reduce osteoarthritis symptoms and support muscle/tendon structure; however, benefits are modest and not a cure, and collagen should complement—not replace—good skincare and sun protection.

Osteoarthritis Exercise Benefits Are Smaller and Shorter-Lasting, Study Finds
health1 month ago

Osteoarthritis Exercise Benefits Are Smaller and Shorter-Lasting, Study Finds

A large umbrella review and data analysis find that exercise therapy for osteoarthritis provides only small, short‑term reductions in pain and function—often comparable to doing nothing in some comparisons—challenging the idea of exercise as a universal first‑line treatment. Effects are smallest for hip and hand OA and diminish further in longer-term or larger studies. While exercise offers other health benefits and may suit some patients, care should be personalized with shared decision‑making, considering alternatives and individual goals rather than universally promoting exercise as the sole first option.

New Evidence Casts Doubt on Intermittent Fasting for Weight Loss
health1 month ago

New Evidence Casts Doubt on Intermittent Fasting for Weight Loss

A Cochrane Library review of 22 randomized trials involving nearly 2,000 overweight or obese participants found intermittent fasting provides little to no additional weight loss or quality-of-life benefit compared with standard dietary advice or no intervention. The evidence is of limited quality, and while fasting did not show significantly more adverse events, it did not outperform doing nothing for most people.

Intermittent fasting falls short for weight loss, new review says
health1 month ago

Intermittent fasting falls short for weight loss, new review says

A Cochrane review of 22 randomized trials involving about 2,000 adults found intermittent fasting produced little to no meaningful weight loss compared with standard dieting or no intervention, with results barely better than doing nothing. Most studies lasted up to 12 months and participants were largely White adults from high-income countries, limiting generalizability. Experts say long-term sustainability matters and advise a case-by-case approach, often favoring balanced, sustainable diets like the Mediterranean or DASH; intermittent fasting may help some people (e.g., for blood sugar control in Type 2 diabetes) but is not universally superior for weight loss.

Intermittent fasting fails to outperform standard diets, major review finds
health1 month ago

Intermittent fasting fails to outperform standard diets, major review finds

A Cochrane review of 22 randomized trials (1,995 adults) finds intermittent fasting produces about 3% body-weight loss over up to 12 months, roughly on par with traditional dietary advice and far below a 5% clinically meaningful target, with little evidence of quality-of-life gains; overall evidence quality is variable, so fasting should be viewed as one option among several, not a miracle solution.

Metformin May Cut Long-COVID Risk When Used During COVID, Review Finds
health2 months ago

Metformin May Cut Long-COVID Risk When Used During COVID, Review Finds

A literature review of randomized trials and health-record analyses suggests that taking metformin during acute COVID-19 can reduce the risk of developing long COVID by roughly 40%–60%, though it is studied for prevention rather than treatment of existing long COVID; findings, including the COVID-OUT trial and EHR-based studies, have replicated this protective effect and point to possible antiviral benefits and compatibility with other antivirals, making metformin a potential low-cost outpatient preventive option.

Move to Mood: Exercise Emerges as a Viable Depression Treatment
health2 months ago

Move to Mood: Exercise Emerges as a Viable Depression Treatment

A Cochrane review of 73 randomized trials involving nearly 5,000 adults finds that exercise modestly reduces depressive symptoms, with effects roughly comparable to psychotherapy and, with less certainty, antidepressants in the short term. Light-to-moderate activity and about 13–36 sessions appear most effective, though individual responses vary and long-term outcomes require more research; tailoring to the person is important.