Trials can be found for virtually every condition imaginable. While many of the most publicized trials often involve high-stakes therapies, such as those for late-stage cancer, lower-stakes trials are plentiful. Registered trials include treatments for everything from acne to insomnia or anxiety.
And they’re not all about pharmaceuticals. Many clinical trials involve interventions with therapies such as acupuncture, botanicals, mineral supplements, and even aromatherapy and yoga for hot flashes, for example.
People with a preference for lifestyle interventions to prevent or treat illness can help play a role in moving those disciplines forward as well. A number of trials involving diet and exercise have been registered.
Completed studies in this area include one assessing the effects of a low-fat vegan diet versus a Mediterranean diet on body weight and insulin sensitivity (run by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine) and one researching the effects of intermittent fasting on the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases in participants who consumed a Mediterranean or Western diet (done by the Washington University School of Medicine).
In the end, whether to participate in a trial is a personal decision, but perhaps the most important takeaway is that the decision should be an informed one. Whether the thinking is “buyer beware” or “well informed is well armed,” the consensus is that it’s best to gather as much information and input as possible from trusted and valued sources, including doctors, other health professionals, family, and friends.
“Our motto is ‘Education before participation,’” says Getz. “We encourage patients and their families and friends to gather the facts, speak with other patients and professionals, and ask a lot of questions.”
There are several searchable databases that list available clinical trials, including:
Additionally, you may find searchable listings at local healthcare centers, on disease-specific organizations’ websites, and even advertised in local newspapers.
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