Zeiderman 1989a.

Methods	Randomised clinical trial, UK
Participants	30 hospitalised adults undergoing elective resection of a gastrointestinal cancer who had lost more than 5 kg in weight over the previous 3 months, at nutritional risk due to a weight loss of 5% during the last 3 months Male:Female = 21:9 Mean age = 69 years Exclusion criteria: weight loss of < 5 kg in the 3 months prior to admission or uncertainty about change in body weight
Interventions	Experimental group 1: Intravenous nutrition for 3 days before operation. The feeding regimen consisted of glucose infused at a rate of 126 kJ/kg body weight/day and amino acids (FreAmine III, Boots Co. plc, Nottingham, UK) infused at 0.18 g nitrogen/kg/24 hrs (1 g protein/kg/day). In addition, 10 ml of multivitamin solution (Multibionta, E. Merck, Hampshire, UK) and 5 ml of trace element solution (Pharmacy Department, Leeds General Infirmary) were infused daily. Electrolytes were provided as required, according to daily measurements of the plasma concentrations. In order to replete essential fatty acids, and in keeping with the standard hospital regimen, fat emulsion (500 ml of 20% ‘Intralipid’, KabiVitrum, Ealing, UK) was given on the 1st day only, with an equicaloric reduction in the amount of glucose provided. (n = 10) Control group: no intervention (n = 10) Co‐interventions: Hospital diet (HD group): free access to routine diet for 7 days before operation
Outcomes	Weight, height, mid‐arm circumference and hand‐grip strength. Skin‐fold thickness was measured at 3 sites (biceps, triceps and subcapsular). Haematological and immunological variables. Biochemical determinations. Preoperative determination of protein synthetic rate in vitro
Study dates	Not stated
Notes	Same as Zeiderman 1989a, comparing experimental group 1 and control group. We could obtain no contact information for the authors.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not described
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not described
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Not described
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	Not described
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Unclear risk	The number of participants with incomplete data was not reported.
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	No protocol could be obtained and the trial did not report on all‐cause mortality or serious adverse events.
For‐profit bias	High risk	The trial was supported by Boots Company PLC.
Other bias	Low risk	The trial appeared to be free of other components that could put it at risk of bias.