Comparison 5. 5‐ASA dose ranging.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Failure to Induce Global/Clinical Remission	5		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.1 MMX mesalazine 4.8 g versus 2.4 g/day	2	194	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.03 [0.82, 1.29]
1.2 Salofalk 4.5 g versus 3 g/day	1	213	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.35 [0.96, 1.89]
1.3 Salofalk 4.5 g versus 1.5 g/day	1	209	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.91 [0.69, 1.22]
1.4 Salofalk 3 g versus 1.5 g/day	1	210	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.68 [0.49, 0.95]
1.5 Pentasa 4 g versus 2.25 g/day	1	123	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.91 [0.77, 1.08]
1.6 Asacol 3.6 g versus 2.4 g/day	1	131	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.79 [0.61, 1.04]
2 Failure to Induce Global/Clinical Remission or Improvement	9		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.1 Asacol 4.8 g versus 2.4 g/day	3	1459	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.89 [0.78, 1.01]
2.2 MMX mesalazine 4.8 g versus 2.4 g/day	1	169	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.90 [0.61, 1.33]
2.3 Asacol 4.8 g versus 1.6 g/day	1	49	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.36 [0.19, 0.69]
2.4 Asacol 3.6 g versus 2.4 g/day	2	179	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.68 [0.48, 0.97]
2.5 Asacol 3.6 g versus 1.2 g/day	1	49	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.61 [0.29, 1.28]
2.6 Asacol 2.4 g versus 1.6 or 1.2 g/day	2	155	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.70, 1.21]
2.7 Pentasa 4 g versus 2.25 g/day	1	123	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.44 [0.27, 0.71]
3 Development of any adverse event	3		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.1 Asacol 4.8 g versus 1.6 g/day	1	49	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.76 [0.48, 1.21]
3.2 Salofalk 4.5 g versus 3 g/day	1	213	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.96 [0.78, 1.20]
3.3 Salofalk 4.5 g versus 1.5 g/day	1	209	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.96 [0.77, 1.19]
3.4 Salofalk 3 g versus 1.5 g/day	1	213	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.04 [0.84, 1.29]
3.5 Pentasa 4 g versus 2.25 g/day	1	123	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.93 [0.78, 1.11]
4 Withdrawal from study due to adverse event	5		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
4.1 Asacol 4.8 g versus 2.4 g/day	1	268	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.93 [0.24, 3.63]
4.2 Asacol 4.8 g versus 1.6 g/day	1	49	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.29 [0.02, 4.26]
4.3 Asacol 2.4 g versus 1.6 g/day	1	106	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	5.0 [0.25, 101.73]
4.4 Salofalk 4.5 g versus 3 g/day	1	213	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.30 [0.50, 3.36]
4.5 Salofalk 4.5 g versus 1.5 g/day	1	209	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.80 [0.34, 1.84]
4.6 Salofalk 3 g versus 1.5 g/day	1	210	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.61 [0.25, 1.52]
4.7 Pentasa 4 g versus 2.25 g/day	1	123	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.21 [0.01, 4.28]
5 Exclusions and withdrawals after entry	6		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
5.1 Asacol 4.8 g versus 2.4 g/day	1	386	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.68 [0.40, 1.16]
5.2 Asacol 4.8 g versus 1.6 g/day	1	49	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.19 [0.04, 1.01]
5.3 Asacol 3.6 g versus 2.4 g/day	1	48	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.5 [0.10, 2.48]
5.4 Asacol 3.6 g versus 1.2 g/day	1	49	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.42 [0.09, 1.95]
5.5 Asacol 2.4 g versus 1.6 or 1.2 g/day	2	155	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.07 [0.60, 1.92]
5.6 Salofalk 4.5 g versus 3 g/day	1	213	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.01 [0.59, 1.74]
5.7 Salofalk 4.5 g versus 1.5 g/day	1	209	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.62 [0.38, 0.99]
5.8 Salofalk 3 g versus 1.5 g/day	1	210	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.61 [0.38, 0.99]
5.9 Pentasa 4 g versus 2.25 g/day	1	123	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.53 [0.24, 1.14]