Higher Cholesterol Intake Predicts Very Slightly Lower Enthusiasm for Population

Higher Cholesterol Intake Predicts Very Slightly Lower Enthusiasm for Population

Contents

Variables

A
Cholesterol 113
A
Enthusiasm 1281

Categories

A
Nutrients 313
A
Emotions 2028

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Medium Confidence
Very Weak Effect Size
Negative Relationship
Population Study
cause image gauge image effect image
Participants reported a 2% average increase in Enthusiasm following above average Cholesterol Intake.

Abstract

Enthusiasm was generally 13% higher than average after a total of 237 milligrams of Cholesterol over the previous 7 days.

Aggregated data from 13 study participants suggests with a MEDIUM degree of confidence (p=0.217, 95% CI -0.803 to 0.698) that Cholesterol has a very weakly negative predictive relationship (R=-0.0523) with Enthusiasm.

The highest quartile of Enthusiasm measurements were observed following an average 233 milligrams Cholesterol per day.

The lowest quartile of Enthusiasm measurements were observed following an average 487 milligrams of Cholesterol per day.

After an onset delay of 0 seconds, Enthusiasm is typically 8% lower than average over the 7 days following around 487 milligrams of Cholesterol Cholesterol.

Keywords: Cholesterol, Enthusiasm, N-of-1 trials, real-world evidence, causal inference, observational study

Moderate Confidence: Based on 13 participants. More data would increase certainty.

Results

Primary Findings

Analysis of 232 paired observations from 13 participants revealed a moderate improvement in Enthusiasm following above-average Cholesterol exposure.

+19.4%
Change from Baseline
Moderate effect on Enthusiasm
0.04
Predictor Impact Score
Insufficient evidence for causal relationship

Supporting Statistics

Medium
Confidence
-0.052
Correlation (r)
p = 0.080
Significance
z = 0.80
Effect Magnitude
φ = 1.00
Temporality

What This Means

When participants had above-average Cholesterol:

  • Enthusiasm increased by 19.4% on average
  • Temporal analysis supports Cholesterol as the predictor (not the outcome)

Interpreting the Predictor Impact Score

The Predictor Impact Score (PIS) integrates multiple Bradford Hill causal criteria into a single metric. Use this guide to interpret the score:

PIS Range Interpretation Recommended Action
≥ 0.5 Strong evidence High priority for RCT validation
0.3 - 0.5 Moderate evidence Consider for experimental investigation
0.1 - 0.3 Weak evidence Monitor for additional data
< 0.1 Insufficient evidence Low priority; may be noise

Note: PIS is a prioritization heuristic, not proof of causation. High scores indicate relationships worth investigating, not confirmed causal effects. With only 13 participants, these scores are preliminary and will become more reliable as additional data is collected.

Optimal Daily Values (Precision Dosing)

Based on the observed relationship, we can estimate the predictor values associated with the best and worst outcomes. These values enable personalized dosing recommendations.

⚠️ Preliminary Data: With 13 participants and 232 observations, these optimal values are preliminary estimates. As more data is collected, precision will improve significantly.

237.0 mg
Value Predicting Higher Enthusiasm
Average Cholesterol when Enthusiasm exceeded its mean
169.0 mg
Value Predicting Lower Enthusiasm
Average Cholesterol when Enthusiasm was below its mean

What This Suggests

Enthusiasm tended to be lowest (best) when Cholesterol was around 169.0 mg.

Important: These values reflect correlations, not guaranteed causal effects. Individual responses may vary. Use as a starting point for personal experimentation, not as a definitive prescription. Consult healthcare providers before making treatment decisions.

Population Correlation

Cholesterol Distribution

Enthusiasm Distribution

Relationship Analysis

Statistical Summary

Relationship Statistics

Property Value
Cause Variable Name Cholesterol Intake
Effect Variable Name Enthusiasm
Sinn Predictive Coefficient 0.038046586279063
Confidence Level MEDIUM
Confidence Interval 0.75066226198955
Forward Pearson Predictive Coefficient -0.0523
Critical T Value 1.6768461538462
Total Cholesterol Intake Over Previous 7 days Before ABOVE Average Enthusiasm 233 milligrams
Total Cholesterol Intake Over Previous 7 days Before BELOW Average Enthusiasm 487 milligrams
Duration of Action 7 days
Effect Size very weakly negative
Number of Paired Measurements 232
Optimal Pearson Product 0.056908969739474
P Value 0.21727940540485
Statistical Significance 0.08
Strength of Relationship 0.75066226198955
Study Type population
Analysis Performed At 2026-01-04
Number of Participants 13

Cholesterol Info

Property Value
Variable Name Cholesterol
Aggregation Method SUM
Analysis Performed At 2026-01-07
Duration of Action 7 days
Filling Value 0
Kurtosis 46.856620931119
Mean 154.80732746896 milligrams
Median 8.7532432432432 milligrams
Minimum Allowed Value 0 milligrams
Number of Aggregate Predictors 0
Number of Aggregate Outcomes 113
Number of Measurements 20557
Number of Measurements (including those generated by tagged, joined, or child variables) 17286
Public true
Onset Delay 0 seconds
Standard Deviation 77.849773097845
Unit Milligrams
User Variables 188
UPC 031604013028
Variable Category Nutrients
Variable ID 1290
Variance 10440.744648417

Enthusiasm Info

Property Value
Variable Name Enthusiasm
Aggregation Method MEAN
Analysis Performed At 2020-10-11
Duration of Action 24 hours
Kurtosis 1.9209223780009
Maximum Allowed Value 5 out of 5
Mean 2.4229587089496 out of 5
Median 2.3953593922652 out of 5
Minimum Allowed Value 1 out of 5
Number of Aggregate Predictors 1149
Number of Aggregate Outcomes 132
Number of Measurements 24230
Number of Measurements (including those generated by tagged, joined, or child variables) 24033
Public true
Onset Delay 0 seconds
Standard Deviation 0.53183816602486
Unit 1 to 5 Rating
User Variables 1495
UPC 0
Variable Category Emotions
Variable ID 1307
Variance 0.59289092294417

Introduction

Background

Cholesterol (Nutrients) and Enthusiasm (Emotions) are both important factors in understanding human health and well-being. This study investigates the relationship between these two variables using real-world observational data.

Traditional randomized controlled trials (RCTs), while the gold standard for causal inference, are often impractical, expensive, or unethical for studying many health relationships. Aggregated N-of-1 observational studies offer a complementary approach that leverages within-subject comparisons across large populations to identify meaningful patterns.

Research Question

Does Cholesterol affect Enthusiasm?

Additionally, we seek to determine:

  1. What is the direction and magnitude of any effect?
  2. How confident can we be in this relationship based on the available data?
  3. What are the optimal levels of Cholesterol for maximizing Enthusiasm?

Study Objective

The objective of this study is to determine the nature of the relationship (if any) between Cholesterol and Enthusiasm. Additionally, we attempt to determine the Cholesterol values most likely to produce optimal Enthusiasm values.

Study Overview

This is a population-level observational study using aggregated N-of-1 methodology. By aggregating individual N-of-1 experiments, we can identify population-level patterns while accounting for the substantial individual variation that exists in most health relationships. Effect sizes are reported as percent change from baseline, enabling intuitive interpretation and comparison across different measures.

Full Methodology: Framework for Real-World Evidence-Based Pharmacovigilance: Aggregated N-of-1 Trials for Quantifying Treatment Effects

Discussion

Interpretation of Findings

Participants experienced a 19.4% improvement in Enthusiasm following above-average Cholesterol exposure. The Predictor Impact Score (PIS) of 0.04 indicates insufficient evidence for a causal relationship.

Statistical Significance

Using a two-tailed t-test with alpha = 0.05, it was determined that the change in Enthusiasm is not statistically significant at a 95% confidence interval. This suggests that the Cholesterol value may not have a significant influence on the Enthusiasm value, or that more data is needed to detect an effect.

After treatment, a 2% increase (0.323 out of 5) from the mean baseline 2.53 out of 5 was observed. The relative standard deviation at baseline was 33.7538%. The observed change was 0.795418 times the standard deviation.

A common rule of thumb considers a change greater than twice the baseline standard deviation on two separate pre-post experiments may be considered significant. This occurrence would have only a 5% likelihood of resulting from random fluctuation (a p-value < 0.05).

T-Test Details
Observed t-value: 1.173
Critical t-value: 1.677

Since t = 1.17 < 1.68, we cannot reject the null hypothesis.

Biological Plausibility

A plausible bio-chemical mechanism between predictor and outcome is critical for interpreting observational findings. This is where human judgment excels beyond statistical analysis.

Community feedback on the biological plausibility of this relationship is still being collected. Consider the known mechanisms by which Cholesterol might influence Enthusiasm.

Bradford Hill Criteria Assessment

The Bradford Hill criteria provide a framework for assessing causality in observational studies. Our methodology operationalizes six of the nine criteria through the Predictor Impact Score (PIS):

Criterion How Addressed Metric
Strength Effect size magnitude Percent change from baseline (Δ%), z-score
Consistency Cross-participant replication Number of users (N), number of pairs (n)
Temporality Predictor precedes outcome Temporality factor (φ), onset delay (δ > 0)
Biological Gradient Dose-response relationship Gradient coefficient (φgradient)
Plausibility Biological mechanism assessment Community votes on mechanism plausibility
Specificity Category appropriateness Interest factor (finterest)

Predictor Impact Score (PIS)

The PIS integrates multiple Bradford Hill criteria into a composite metric quantifying how reliably a predictor affects an outcome. Higher scores indicate stronger evidence:

Population-Level PIS:

$$\text{PIS}_{\text{agg}} = |r_{\text{forward}}| \cdot w \cdot \phi_{\text{users}} \cdot \phi_{\text{pairs}} \cdot \phi_{\text{change}} \cdot \phi_{\text{gradient}}$$

Where φ-factors are saturation functions approaching 1 as evidence accumulates:

  • φusers = 1 - e-N/10 (user saturation)
  • φpairs = 1 - e-n/nsig (pair saturation)
  • φchange = 1 - e-Δspread/Δsig (effect spread saturation)
  • w = weighted average of plausibility votes

Temporality Assessment

We assess evidence for correct causal direction using the temporality factor:

$$\phi_{\text{temporal}} = \frac{|r_{\text{forward}}|}{|r_{\text{forward}}| + |r_{\text{reverse}}|}$$

Values approaching 1 indicate the predictor precedes the outcome (supporting causation); values near 0.5 suggest ambiguous directionality; values near 0 suggest reverse causation or confounding by indication.

Limitations

As with any observational study, correlation does not prove causation. Key limitations include:

  • Unmeasured confounders: Variables not tracked may influence results
  • Self-selection bias: Health trackers may differ from the general population
  • Measurement error: Self-reported data may contain recall bias
  • Confounding by indication: Sicker individuals may use more treatments

However, within-subject comparison and temporal precedence analysis partially mitigate these limitations. If the relationship is merely coincidental, as participants independently modify their Cholesterol values, the observed strength will decline over time. Spurious correlations naturally dissipate as more data is collected.

Future Directions

Future research should examine:

  • Subgroup analyses to identify individual differences in response
  • Potential confounders and mediators of the observed relationship
  • Optimal dosing and timing for Cholesterol
  • Confirmation through prospective or randomized designs
  • Biological mechanisms underlying the observed effects

Conclusion

📊 Preliminary Findings: With 13 participants, these results are based on limited data. Effect sizes and confidence will improve as more participants contribute data. Consider these findings directional rather than definitive.

Above-average Cholesterol was associated with a 19.4% improvement in Enthusiasm—a moderate effect. The Predictor Impact Score of 0.04 indicates this relationship is requiring additional data before conclusions.

Bottom Line: Based on a PIS of 0.04 and a 19.4% effect size, this relationship currently lacks sufficient evidence. Continue monitoring as more data becomes available. Note: These conclusions may strengthen or change direction as more data is collected.

These findings contribute to our understanding of how Cholesterol may influence Enthusiasm in real-world conditions. While preliminary, these results may inform future research directions. As more participants contribute data, the reliability and precision of these findings will improve substantially.

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Methods

Study Design

This study is based on data donated by 13 participants. Thus, the study design is equivalent to the aggregation of 13 separate n=1 observational natural experiments.

This within-subject design is powerful because it controls for all stable individual characteristics (genetics, baseline health status, socioeconomic factors) that might otherwise confound the relationship between variables.

Data Analysis

Temporal Assumptions

The analysis incorporates temporal assumptions about the relationship between variables:

  • Onset Delay: It was assumed that 0 seconds would pass before a change in Cholesterol would produce an observable change in Enthusiasm.
  • Duration of Action: It was assumed that Cholesterol could produce an observable change in Enthusiasm for as much as 7 days after the stimulus event.

Statistical Methods

For each participant, we calculated the Pearson correlation coefficient between Cholesterol values and subsequent Enthusiasm values. Individual correlations were then aggregated using Fisher's z-transformation to produce a population-level estimate:

Individual Correlation:

$$r_i = \frac{\sum(x_{ij} - \bar{x}_i)(y_{ij} - \bar{y}_i)}{\sqrt{\sum(x_{ij} - \bar{x}_i)^2 \sum(y_{ij} - \bar{y}_i)^2}}$$

Fisher's Z-Transformation:

$$z_i = \frac{1}{2} \ln\left(\frac{1 + r_i}{1 - r_i}\right)$$

Aggregated Correlation:

$$\bar{r} = \tanh(\bar{z}) \quad \text{where} \quad \bar{z} = \frac{1}{N}\sum_{i=1}^{N} z_i$$

Effect Size Calculation

Effect sizes are reported as percent change from baseline. For each participant, we compare the outcome following above-average predictor values to the overall baseline outcome:

$$\Delta\%_{\text{baseline}} = \frac{\bar{O}_{\text{follow-up}} - \bar{O}_{\text{baseline}}}{\bar{O}_{\text{baseline}}} \times 100$$

Effect Magnitude (Z-Score)

To assess effect magnitude relative to natural variability, we calculate the z-score:

$$z = \frac{|\Delta\%_{\text{baseline}}|}{\text{RSD}_{\text{baseline}}}$$

where RSDbaseline is the relative standard deviation of outcome during baseline period

A z-score > 2 indicates statistical significance (p < 0.05), meaning the observed change exceeds typical baseline fluctuation and is unlikely due to random variation.

Statistical Significance

Correlation significance is assessed using a two-tailed t-test:

$$t = \frac{r\sqrt{n-2}}{\sqrt{1-r^2}}$$

We reject the null hypothesis (ρ = 0) at α = 0.05 when |t| exceeds the critical value, providing statistical evidence that the observed relationship is not due to chance.

Data Sources

Cholesterol data was primarily collected using MyFitnessPal. Lose weight with MyFitnessPal, the fastest and easiest-to-use calorie counter for iPhone and iPad. With the largest food database of any iOS calorie counter (over 3,000,000 foods), and amazingly fast food and exercise entry.

Enthusiasm data was primarily collected using QuantiModo. QuantiModo allows you to easily track mood, symptoms, or any outcome you want to optimize in a fraction of a second. You can also import your data from over 30 other apps and devices. QuantiModo then analyzes your data to identify which hidden factors are most likely to be influencing your mood or symptoms.

Data Quality

Data quality measures were applied to ensure reliable results:

  • Minimum Data Requirement: Only participants with sufficient paired observations were included in the analysis.
  • Outlier Handling: Extreme values were winsorized to reduce the influence of measurement errors.
  • Missing Data: Days with missing values were handled using appropriate filling strategies based on the variable type.
  • Test User Exclusion: Test accounts and invalid users were excluded from all analyses.

Principal Investigator

Program & Methods

Mike P. Sinn
Sinn, M. P.

Designed and implemented data collection, aggregation, causal inference pipeline, and automated study generation framework. Developed the Predictor Impact Score methodology operationalizing Bradford Hill criteria for ranking causal relationships in observational data. When he tells people this at parties, they usually say they have to go check on their car.

Individual study outputs are automated, reproducible, and open to external audit. (Which I would seriously recommend.)

Contact

Cite This Study

APA Format
Sinn, M. P. (2026). Causal Analysis: Does Cholesterol Affect Enthusiasm?. The Journal of Citizen Science. https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-1290-effect-1307-population-study
BibTeX 
@misc{sinn_cause_1290_effect_1307_population_study_2026,
  author = {Sinn, Mike P.},
  title = {Causal Analysis: Does Cholesterol Affect Enthusiasm?},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {The Journal of Citizen Science},
  url = {https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-1290-effect-1307-population-study},
  note = {Accessed: January 7, 2026}
}
Chicago/Turabian
Sinn, Mike P. "Causal Analysis: Does Cholesterol Affect Enthusiasm?." The Journal of Citizen Science. Accessed January 7, 2026. https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-1290-effect-1307-population-study.
Harvard
Sinn, M.P., 2026. Causal Analysis: Does Cholesterol Affect Enthusiasm?. [Aggregated N-of-1 Study] The Journal of Citizen Science. Available at: https://studies.crowdsourcingcures.org/study/cause-1290-effect-1307-population-study [Accessed January 7, 2026].

Study Type: Aggregated N-of-1 Observational Mega-Study
Evidence Level: Level II (Real-World Evidence)
Methodology: Bradford Hill Criteria with Predictor Impact Score (PIS)

References

This framework was originally developed in 2013 based on the Bradford Hill criteria. Subsequent literature has independently validated similar approaches to causal inference from observational data:

  1. Hill, A.B. (1965). The environment and disease: association or causation? Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, 58(5), 295-300. [Bradford Hill criteria]
  2. Lillie, E.O., et al. (2011). The n-of-1 clinical trial: the ultimate strategy for individualizing medicine? Personalized Medicine, 8(2), 161-173. [N-of-1 methodology]
  3. Pearl, J. (2009). Causality: Models, Reasoning, and Inference . Cambridge University Press. [Causal inference]
  4. Hernán, M.A., & Robins, J.M. (2020). Causal Inference: What If . Chapman & Hall/CRC. [Free textbook]
  5. FDA (2018). Framework for FDA's Real-World Evidence Program . U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [Regulatory context]
  6. Duan, N., et al. (2013). Single-patient (n-of-1) trials: a pragmatic clinical decision methodology . Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 66(8), S21-S28.
  7. Platt, R., et al. (2018). The FDA Sentinel Initiative—an evolving national resource . New England Journal of Medicine, 379(22), 2091-2093.

This information is for research and educational purposes only, not medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider before making health decisions. Terms of Service

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