Table 4.

Papers excluded from the meta-analysis

Nwokolo et al, 2003[2]	Reported median values & 95% CI; also measured integrated ghrelin levels rather than the discrete measurement that other authors used. The authors stated that the median values were used because the sample size was small and the data were skewed
Mendez-Sanchez et al, 2007 [49]	Studied ghrelin immuno-reactive cells, did not provide data on plasma ghrelin levels
Salles et al, 2006[19]	Ghrelin values not provided. Only P-values
Gao et al, 2009[15]	Ghrelin values not provided
Choe et al, 2007[6]	Median & IQR provided. Further clarifications not provided by the authors
Czesnikiewicz-Guzik et al, 2005[12]	Insufficient information for meta-analysis
Czesnikiewicz-Guzik et al, 2007 [13]	Insufficient information for meta-analysis
Masaoka et al [51]	This was a case study with only one subject
Stec-Michalska et al, 2009[24]	Measured only gastric ghrelin
Liew et al, 2006[47]	Assessed only gastric ghrelin
Konturek et al, 2006[17]	The numbers of H pylori positive and negative participants were not provided and the authors did not respond to requests for further information.