Nearly 20 years after the publication of a paper on phytoestrogens in postmenopausal women, one of the authors said the study had never been performed, according to a recently published retraction notice. Ben Mol and his colleagues initially discovered data similarities between the recently-retracted study and another by the same group. The two papers that seem to share data appeared in Fertility and Sterility, an Elsevier publication, in 2004 and 2006. Table 1 of the 2006 paper "Psychological assessment of the effects of treatment with phytoestrogens on postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study" was identical to Table 1 of the 2004 article "Endometrial effects of long-term treatment with phytoestrogens: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study".

Only the 2006 article was retracted: "The corresponding author did not reply to inquiries; however, one of the coauthors did respond and admitted that the study published above was not actually performed. Inquiries were made to the coauthors and their institutions, who did not provide any information to alter or contradict this admission. Therefore, the [Publications] Committee has determined to retract the article."

Enrico Papaleo, a co-author of the 2006 study and a gynecologist in Milan, left a comment on PubPeer about a paper by the same group retracted in 2023: "In consideration of concerns raised about this article above, I would like to point out that my participation in this study did not include clinical management of patients or database management. In view of the concerns raised, I no longer take responsibility for these papers. Apart from this public statement, I have informed the journal about my position."

Another high-profile case has interested scientists. Read now

Source https://retractionwatch.com/2025/01/24/paper-retracted-after-author-told-journal-study-was-not-actually-performed/