Table 1

Grades of Evidence

A
Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials and/or randomized controlled trials.
B
Systematic reviews of observational studies and/or high-quality observational studies including cohort and case-control studies.
C
Case-series, case-reports and/or poor quality cohort and case-control studies.
D
Expert opinion without explicit critical appraisal, or based on physiology, bench research or "first principles."

Prousky and Seely Nutrition Journal 2005 4:3   doi:10.1186/1475-2891-4-3