Evidence quality
Mechanistic evidence
Evidence about how something might work biologically, rather than whether it improves outcomes.
What it means
Definition
Mechanistic evidence: Mechanistic evidence is useful for understanding plausibility and generating hypotheses. It usually needs clinical evidence before strong health claims are justified.
What it can tell you
It can help clarify what sort of evidence or claim is being discussed.
What it cannot tell you
It cannot, by itself, prove that the headline is accurate or clinically important.
Headline trap
Why this matters in headlines
A mechanism in cells can support further research but should not be sold as proven human benefit.