The Importance of Applying Evidence-Based Medicine in Functional Nutrition

Functional Medicine requires more than just personalisation—it also requires an evidence-informed approach. Identifying root causes and designing individualised care demands a disciplined, critical evaluation of the available evidence, particularly in a landscape crowded with emerging therapies and competing claims.

The evidence-based medicine (EBM) approach was developed by professor, physician, and clinical epidemiologist Dr. David Sackett. Dr. Sackett argued that clinical decisions must be grounded in experimental evidence rather than tradition or assumption. As he stated, “When asking questions about therapy we should avoid non-experimental approaches since these routinely lead to false positive conclusions about efficacy.” He highlighted the importance of systematic reviews—compilations of results from multiple randomised trials—observing that evidence from these “is far more likely to inform [practitioners] and far less likely to mislead [them].”

Even as a medical student, Sackett put this philosophy into practice. When a teenager with hepatitis A wished to avoid strict bed rest—then considered essential—he reviewed the available research rather than defaulting to convention. The patient recovered uneventfully. That experience shaped Sackett’s career and his enduring commitment to teaching clinicians how to integrate rigorous evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values in everyday care.

Although Sackett passed away in 2015, his work remains foundational. Today, EBM is an established pillar of clinical practice worldwide. In Functional Nutrition, these principles guide nutritional and supplement protocols—ensuring that recommendations, whether dietary strategies, vitamins, or botanicals, are selected based on the best available evidence, monitored outcomes, and individual client context. While the strength of evidence varies across interventions, this approach ensures care is personalised, safe, and scientifically grounded.

When working with me, the most current and relevant evidence is carefully reviewed before developing your protocol. This process is deliberate and time-intensive, but it ensures that your care is informed by the strongest data available—applied thoughtfully and individually.

KATHLEEN KARIUS

FUNCTIONAL NUTRITION AND WELLBEING