Ref (type)	Population	Outcome, Interventions	Results and statistical analysis	Effect size	Favours
Adverse effects
Systematic review	People (>90% aged >16 years) with idiopathic chronic constipation (modified Rome II criteria) Data from 1 RCT	Total adverse event rates 34% with linaclotide 32% with placebo Absolute numbers not reported	Significance not reported
Systematic review	People (>90% aged >16 years) with idiopathic chronic constipation (modified Rome II criteria) 3 RCTs in this analysis	Diarrhoea with linaclotide with placebo Absolute results not reported	RR 3.08 95% CI 1.27 to 7.48	Moderate effect size	placebo
Systematic review	People, mean age 46.9 years, with idiopathic chronic constipation (modified Rome II criteria) 3 RCTs in this analysis	Diarrhoea with lower-dose linaclotide with placebo Absolute results not reported	RR 2.19 95% CI 0.5 to 9.48		Not significant
Systematic review	People, mean age 46.9 years, with idiopathic chronic constipation (modified Rome II criteria) 3 RCTs in this analysis	Diarrhoea 63/494 (13%) with higher-dose linaclotide 22/503 (4%) with placebo	RR 2.84 95% CI 1.78 to 4.54	Moderate effect size	placebo