A Statistical Framework to Interpret Individual Response to Intervention : Paving the Way for Personalized Nutrition and Exercise Prescription

Author(s)

Swinton, Paul A. ^[1] ; Hemingway, Ben Stephens ^[1] ; Saunders, Bryan ^{[2, 3]} ; Gualano, Bruno ^[2] ; Dolan, Eimear ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Robert Gordon Univ, Sch Hlth Sci, Aberdeen - Scotland

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Appl Physiol & Nutr Res Grp, Rheumatol Div, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Inst Orthopaed & Traumotol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION; v. 5, MAY 28 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 20

Abstract

The concept of personalized nutrition and exercise prescription represents a topical and exciting progression for the discipline given the large inter-individual variability that exists in response to virtually all performance and health related interventions. Appropriate interpretation of intervention-based data from an individual or group of individuals requires practitioners and researchers to consider a range of concepts including the confounding influence of measurement error and biological variability. In addition, the means to quantify likely statistical and practical improvements are facilitated by concepts such as confidence intervals (CIs) and smallest worthwhile change (SWC). The purpose of this review is to provide accessible and applicable recommendations for practitioners and researchers that interpret, and report personalized data. To achieve this, the review is structured in three sections that progressively develop a statistical framework. Section 1 explores fundamental concepts related to measurement error and describes how typical error and CIs can be used to express uncertainty in baseline measurements. Section 2 builds upon these concepts and demonstrates how CIs can be combined with the concept of SWC to assess whether meaningful improvements occur post-intervention. Finally, section 3 introduces the concept of biological variability and discusses the subsequent challenges in identifying individual response and non-response to an intervention. Worked numerical examples and interactive Supplementary Material are incorporated to solidify concepts and assist with implementation in practice. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/14746-4 - Carnosine metabolism in skeletal muscle: a multi-approach study
• Grantee: Bruno Gualano
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/04973-4 - Nutritional supplementation and exercise to optimise exercise performance: focus on individual responses and a step towards personalized sports nutrition
• Grantee: Bryan Saunders
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers
• FAPESP's process: 16/50438-0 - Nutritional suplementation and exercise to optimize exercise performance: focus on individual responses and a step towards personalized sports nutrition
• Grantee: Bryan Saunders
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/09635-0 - Factors determining the carnosine content of human skeletal muscle: Influence of age and sex
• Grantee: Eimear Bernadette Dolan
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 15/11328-2 - Carnosine metabolism in skeletal muscle: a multi-approach study. Substudy 3: exploring carnosine role in skeletal muscle
• Grantee: Eimear Bernadette Dolan
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral