7 steps to assess scientific evidence

Microbiome Analysis is a cutting-edge discipline that requires me to stay abreast of the latest research, so I can incorporate the emerging insights into my clinical practice. With misinformation being so widespread in the area of health, and especially the gut microbiome, it's essential to know how to assess the quality of research evidence behind ideas and claims. Here are some tips to help you appraise scientific research yourself.

Caption: close-up of a laptop with a journal article investigating a novel use of probiotics as anti-viral sanitisers on screen.

1) Check the date

The date of publication is vital. Anything over 10 years old is too out of date to be relevant to microbiome health. Aim for less than 5 years, and ideally the