Low-energy sweeteners and body weight: A citation network analysis
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Low-energy sweeteners and body weight: A citation network analysis. / Normand, Mie; Ritz, Christian; Mela, David; Raben, Anne.
In: BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, Vol. 4, No. 1, e000210, 2021, p. 319-332.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Low-energy sweeteners and body weight: A citation network analysis
AU - Normand, Mie
AU - Ritz, Christian
AU - Mela, David
AU - Raben, Anne
N1 - CURIS 2021 NEXS 143
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Objective: Reviews on the relationship of low-energy sweeteners (LES) with body weight (BW) have reached widely differing conclusions. To assess possible citation bias, citation analysis was used to quantify the relevant characteristics of cited articles, and explore citation patterns in relation to review conclusions.Design: A systematic search identified reviews published from January 2010 to March 2020. Different characteristics (for example, type of review or research, journal impact factor, conclusions) were extracted from the reviews and cited articles. Logistic regression was used to estimate likelihood of articles with particular characteristics being cited in reviews. A qualitative network analysis linked reviews sub-grouped by conclusions with the types of articles they cited. Main outcome measures: (OR; 95% CI) for likelihood that articles with particular characteristics were cited as evidence in reviews. Results: From 33 reviews identified, 183 different articles were cited (including other reviews). Narrative reviews were 62% less likely to be cited than systematic reviews with meta-analysis (OR 0.38; 0.16 to 0.86; p=0.03). Likelihood of being cited was higher for evidence on children than adults (OR 2.27; 1.59 to 3.25; p<0.0001), and with increased journal impact factor (OR 1.15; 1.00 to 1.31; p=0.04). No other factors were statistically significant in the main analysis, and few factors were significant in subgroup analyses. Network analysis showed that reviews concluding a beneficial relationship of LES with BW cited mainly randomised controlled trials, whereas reviews concluding an adverse relationship cited mainly observational studies. Conclusions: Overall reference to the available evidence across reviews appears largely arbitrary, making citation bias likely. Differences in the conclusions of individual reviews map onto different types of evidence cited. Overall, inconsistent and selective use of the available evidence may account for the diversity of conclusions in reviews on LES and BW. Trial registration number: Prior to data analysis, the protocol was registered with the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/9ghws).
AB - Objective: Reviews on the relationship of low-energy sweeteners (LES) with body weight (BW) have reached widely differing conclusions. To assess possible citation bias, citation analysis was used to quantify the relevant characteristics of cited articles, and explore citation patterns in relation to review conclusions.Design: A systematic search identified reviews published from January 2010 to March 2020. Different characteristics (for example, type of review or research, journal impact factor, conclusions) were extracted from the reviews and cited articles. Logistic regression was used to estimate likelihood of articles with particular characteristics being cited in reviews. A qualitative network analysis linked reviews sub-grouped by conclusions with the types of articles they cited. Main outcome measures: (OR; 95% CI) for likelihood that articles with particular characteristics were cited as evidence in reviews. Results: From 33 reviews identified, 183 different articles were cited (including other reviews). Narrative reviews were 62% less likely to be cited than systematic reviews with meta-analysis (OR 0.38; 0.16 to 0.86; p=0.03). Likelihood of being cited was higher for evidence on children than adults (OR 2.27; 1.59 to 3.25; p<0.0001), and with increased journal impact factor (OR 1.15; 1.00 to 1.31; p=0.04). No other factors were statistically significant in the main analysis, and few factors were significant in subgroup analyses. Network analysis showed that reviews concluding a beneficial relationship of LES with BW cited mainly randomised controlled trials, whereas reviews concluding an adverse relationship cited mainly observational studies. Conclusions: Overall reference to the available evidence across reviews appears largely arbitrary, making citation bias likely. Differences in the conclusions of individual reviews map onto different types of evidence cited. Overall, inconsistent and selective use of the available evidence may account for the diversity of conclusions in reviews on LES and BW. Trial registration number: Prior to data analysis, the protocol was registered with the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/9ghws).
KW - Nutritional treatment
KW - Weight management
KW - Body weight
KW - Low-energy sweeteners
KW - Diversity of conclusions in reviews
U2 - 10.1136/bmjnph-2020-000210
DO - 10.1136/bmjnph-2020-000210
M3 - Review
C2 - 34308140
AN - SCOPUS:85103605027
VL - 4
SP - 319
EP - 332
JO - BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health
JF - BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and Health
SN - 2516-5542
IS - 1
M1 - e000210
ER -
ID: 260238823