In an era of information overload and increasing scrutiny of scientific integrity, critical thinking and scientific literacy are more essential than ever—yet they are often underdeveloped in nutrition science training. This symposium addresses a growing concern: the difficulty researchers and students face in identifying fabricated data, poorly designed studies, and biologically implausible conclusions. The first speaker will explore the challenges of interpreting clinical trials on omega-3 fatty acids and cognition, with a focus on identifying methodological flaws, fabricated data, and misleading conclusions. Through case studies, attendees will learn how to critically assess trial design, statistical validity, and reporting transparency. The second speaker will present a translational study that reproduced a controversial human trial in a murine model using LPC-omega-3 supplementation. Contrary to the original findings from a research group in Chicago, the replicated study did not observe increased brain DHA levels, highlighting the importance of reproducibility and rigorous methodology. Together, these talks will emphasize the need for skepticism, methodological rigor, and cross-validation in nutrition science. The session will conclude with an interactive discussion on best practices for evaluating scientific literature and fostering integrity in research. Learning Objectives 1. Identify key indicators of poor-quality clinical trials in nutrition science, including issues related to study design, data integrity, and reporting practices. 2. Understand the importance of reproducibility . 3. Critically evaluate scientific literature using methodological and statistical criteria to assess the reliability and relevance of published research. 4. Recognize the impact of publication bias and controversial findings on the interpretation of nutrition
Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science
University of Alberta
Dr. Mazurak’s research focuses on metabolism of fats in disease characterized by inflammation, to define nutritional interventions for those at risk for malnutrition. She has a broad background in metabolism, with specific training and expertise in immunology and nutritional science. Her research includes basic models such as cell culture and animal studies and spans to clinical trials. She is currently investigating the role of dietary fat, and specifically the essential fatty acids, on physiological processes in human health and disease with expertise in assessing the impact of cancer and chemotherapy on fatty acid metabolism and the role of nutritional interventions in improving outcomes for patients. She has established methods in lipidomics to define specific lipid species and their bioactive metabolites in a variety of tissues. She has developed and/or instructed 9 courses in undergraduate and graduate programs ranging from fundamental nutritional biochemistry, nutrition in cancer, lifespan nutrition and research methods in nutritional science. She supervises undergraduate, graduate student (PhD and MSc) and postdoctoral fellow research programs in Nutrition as well as the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. She has been a member of CNS since she was a graduate student and during that time has sat on the Board of Directors as a Member at large, Chaired the Education committee and has been a member of the awards committee.