Vegan Twin Study: Good Science or Propaganda?

Today, we're zooming in on a study that comes from Stanford University and was recently published in JAMA Network Open. 

The researchers put a vegan diet head-to-head with an omnivorous diet in twenty-two pairs of identical twins. The buzz around this study has been immense, sparking conversations everywhere—from social media to professional circles. Adding to the excitement, this research forms the basis of a new Netflix documentary called "You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment." 

In this episode of The Doctor’s Farmacy, I discuss the many conflicts of interest, funding sources, and hidden agendas that were not fully disclosed but could have had a major hand in clouding the study's conclusions and real-world applications. 

In this episode, we’ll also dive into:
* Why nutrition research is so confusing 
* Overview of the Stanford study design and findings 
* Issues with the study design 
* Conflicts of interest and ethical considerations with this study 
* Other research on vegan diets 
* What the Netflix documentary got right and wrong 
* How to eat for your health and the environment 

Find the episode on your favorite podcast app.

[kimstreuter]

I stopped watching the Netflix show when I got grossed out about the hog farms. And I'm tired of people saying that cow farts are killing the planet.

[davebritton]

I was hoping for some sort of conclusion.

[xXcoolbeansXx]

To follow any special diet, one would have to be more aware and vigilant about what they’re putting in their body. This alone makes the outcome comparison of a vegan to an omnivore who may not be preoccupied with their diet very iffy.

[laureenshefchik]

Kind of like the 7 country study done by Ancel Keyes in the 60's against fat. Which catapulted fat free bs.

[crankiemanx]

The best diet is the diet in which people live the longest, healthiest& happiest life.& by diet I'm also referring to lifestyle & mentality not just food.& that diet has shown to be the way of life in the blue zones.

[enablr]

This short clip says virtually nothing. It glazes over the Netflix documentary and quickly switches to this weird vague anecdotal generalization about how associative studies can be wrong and not show anything. Is this supposed to simply be propagating us to doubt the show (and a vegan diet). Does Dr. Hyman have vested interested in the meat industry, even if it’s grass fed? 😊

[YvonneWatson-ffex]

No, you can’t. I learned that very clearly in 2021-2022.

[MercyForTheInnocent]

At this point even if we dont look at studies you can do some simple math and figure out whats better for the planet…

[susanbeach]

That study is a show on Netflix...its totally biased toward plant based

[Shafshere]

Thought the documentary showed positive outcomes of vegan diet which was very interesting by itself. And isn’t the China Study a population study?

[kenblakeley]

Why don't studies include land race and blood type, the answers to everything are about our ancestors!

[monnoo]

biggest mistake: the question. ... Asking, "what is he optimal diet for us humans" is stupid, because we are opportunistic omnivores, maybe with a tendency to eat meat. However, that question assumes that ALL humans have been the SAME across EONS. More stupid is barely possible

[sciencefliestothemoon]

Correlation is often causation, but be aware that things can be correlated by chance.

That is the rhe original paraphrased quote, not the other way around.
In case of medicine this can be strengthened by the Bradford Hill criteria.

[grrinc]

We’re omnivores. That’s pretty much the only fact one needs to pay attention too. Bulletproof evidence that it’s perfectly healthy for humans to consume various meats.

[johnblasiak]

Sounds like nonsense to start with the world’s population doesn’t have a choice mostly when it comes to diet as 24 percent are living in poverty

[ptegsotica]

look under this guy's eyes!!
next!! lol

[pippacarron]

Oh whoa, you got too complicated there for a while, and then never said the results of the trial.

[Padraigp]

How can you randomize twins they come in pairs if youre comparing pairs against. Each other you cant randomize the people in the study.

[laurahuston]

Omnivore in this study is very loose and doesn't insist on clean diet.

[kdneury]

It’s scary we are in an age of denying science. It’s a pretty simple idea that eating more plants benefits overall mortality and is better for the planet. We are trying desperately to find something to hang onto with all these horrible animal studies.