Lore of Nutrition: Challenging conventional dietary beliefs

by Tim Noakes

2.54 per cent. Which means that the absolute risk reduction for a heart attack is 0.71 per cent (4.76 minus 4.05), and for stroke, 1.31 per cent (3.85 minus 2.54). Which further means that to calculate the number needed to treat (NNT),** we divide the absolute risk reduction percentage into 100, giving NNTs for heart attack and stroke reduction of 141 and 76 respectively. Thus, to produce one beneficial outcome in one single patient, we must treat between 76 and 141 hypertensive patients with (expensive) medications for at least four years. Interestingly, the NNTs for the 10 highest-grossing drugs in the US range between 3 and 24,83 suggesting that the overwhelming majority of people in the US are not benefiting from the drugs they are prescribed. Perhaps a dietary change might be more beneficial. And less expensive.