This is a real-world medical entrance exam question, please give the true answer based on the question and selection. Topic name: None, Subject name: Social & Preventive Medicine
An investigator found an association between beta carotene consumption and reduced risk of colon cancer. But it was found that it may be also due to increased fiber in such diets. Such a kind of occurrence is termed- 
Select and explain. 
A. Multifactorial causation, B. Confounding factor, C. Misclassification, D. None of these
B: Confounding factor
Answer: B: Confounding factor 
Explanation: Ans. is 'b' i.e., Confounding factor Confounding is considered a mixing of effects. When a factor 'X' causes a disease 'Y', and relationship could be confounded by a factor 'C' that is associated with both factor 'X' and disease Y. 'C' would be an alternative explanation for the relationship observed between 'X' and 'Y', i.e., C is acts as confounding factor (read below). Here beta Carotene Consumption reduces risk of colon cancer; however, it is confounded by increased fiber intake.