On bias in medical research; reflections on present salt-cholesterol controversies.

A common form of biased reporting is to avoid quoting evidence that contradicts the authors' interpretation of scientific data. Against this background the recommendations by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of USA (IOM) regarding a population-based policy of salt restriction have been reviewed. It is suggested that the recommendations may not be valid since some important evidence has not been included in the IOM analysis.

On criticism in bio-medical research--a tribute to Uffe Ravnskov.

The great importance of criticism in science--and its ups-and-downs due to human prejudices and emotions--is discussed in a historical perspective. Towards such a background, attempts are made to evaluate present controversies concerning the widely assumed cause-effect relations between diet-adipositas per se and disorders, like diabetes 2 and atherosclerosis. Seen from a physiological angle, it appears that the real culprits are to a great extent of a different nature, though easily overlooked in e.