Analyzing lognormal data: A nonmathematical practical guide.

ABSTRACT: Lognormal distributions are pervasive in pharmacology and elsewhere in biomedical science, arising naturally when biological effects multiply rather than add. Despite their ubiquity in pharmacological parameters (eg, EC50, IC50, Kd, and Km), lognormal distributions are often overlooked or misunderstood, leading to flawed data analysis. This largely nonmathematical review explains why lognormal distributions are common, how to recognize them, and how to analyze them appropriately. We show that many measured variables are lognormal. So are many derived parameters, particularly those defined as ratios of lognormal variables. Through examples and simulations accessible to working scientists, we demonstrate how misidentifying lognormal distributions as normal leads to reduced statistical power,

SUBMITTER: Motulsky HJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12163497 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature