Eating regular broccoli for three months doesn't lower bad cholesterol enough to be considered a real effect in this group of people.
Scientific Claim
Standard broccoli consumption for 12 weeks at 400 grams per week does not produce a statistically significant reduction in plasma LDL cholesterol in middle-aged adults at moderate cardiovascular risk.
Original Statement
“In study 1... standard broccoli reduced LDL-C by 1.8% (95% CI +3.9%, –7.5%, ns). In study 2... standard broccoli reduced LDL-C by 2.5% (95% CI: +0.8%, –5.7%, ns).”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
definitive
Can make definitive causal claims
Assessment Explanation
The RCT design with precise confidence intervals and non-significant p-values supports definitive language. The claim accurately reflects the null result observed.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (0)
Contradicting (1)
Diet rich in high glucoraphanin broccoli reduces plasma LDL cholesterol: Evidence from randomised controlled trials
The study found that eating normal broccoli didn’t lower bad cholesterol enough to be considered a real effect, which matches the claim—but the real point was that special broccoli with more nutrients did lower it significantly.