Comparison 4. Dietary advice plus supplements if required compared with no advice.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Mortality	9		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.1 Zero to three months	4	291	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.95 [0.47, 1.93]
1.2 Four to six months	3	350	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.04 [0.54, 2.00]
1.3 Seven to twelve months	3	238	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.26 [0.76, 2.10]
1.4 Twelve months and over	2	317	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.94 [0.84, 1.05]
2 Mortality using only Persson final time‐point	9	785	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.95 [0.85, 1.05]
2.1 Zero to three months	3	154	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.32 [0.32, 5.44]
2.2 Four to six months	2	213	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.05 [0.30, 3.70]
2.3 Seven to twelve months	2	101	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.09 [0.25, 4.66]
2.4 Twelve months and over	2	317	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.94 [0.84, 1.05]
3 Change in weight (kg)	9		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.1 Zero to three months	5	232	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.74 [0.53, 2.95]
3.2 Four to six months	4	281	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.87 [‐0.07, 3.81]
3.3 Seven to twelve months	1	62	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.7 [‐0.84, 2.24]
3.4 Twelve months and over	2	77	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	2.17 [‐1.20, 5.54]
4 Change in weight (kg) using only Persson final time‐point	9	454	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	2.20 [1.16, 3.25]
4.1 Zero to three months	4	155	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.92 [0.28, 3.56]
4.2 Four to six months	3	222	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	2.65 [0.98, 4.31]
4.3 Twelve months and over	2	77	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	2.17 [‐1.20, 5.54]
5 Change in triceps skinfold thickness (TSF) (mm)	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	Totals not selected
5.1 Four to six months	1		Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
6 Change in energy intake (Kcal)	6	358	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	212.71 [‐0.91, 426.32]
6.1 Zero to three months	4	190	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	184.40 [‐109.01, 477.81]
6.2 Four to six months	1	105	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	71.0 [‐125.65, 267.65]
6.3 seven to twelve months	1	63	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	464.0 [270.07, 657.93]
7 Change in grip strength (kg force)	2		Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
7.1 Four to six months	2	117	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	6.44 [‐3.15, 16.03]