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. 2021 Dec 21;2021(12):CD002008. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002008.pub5

Comparison 2. Dietary advice compared with nutritional supplements.

Outcome or subgroup title No. of studies No. of participants Statistical method Effect size
2.1 Mortality 9   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2.1.1 Up to 3 months 8 576 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.66 [0.34, 1.26]
2.1.2 4 to 6 months 3 302 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.98 [0.65, 1.47]
2.1.3 12 months and over 2 256 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.56 [0.15, 2.06]
2.2 Number of people admitted or readmitted to hospital 2 111 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 2.30 [1.02, 5.15]
2.2.1 Up to 3 months 1 50 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.36 [0.04, 3.24]
2.2.2 4 to 6 months 1 61 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 3.62 [1.37, 9.60]
2.3 Change in weight (kg) 9   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2.3.1 Up to 3 months 9 517 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.14 [‐2.01, 1.74]
2.3.2 4 to 6 months 1 44 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.03 [‐1.72, 1.78]
2.4 Change in BMI (kg/m²) 2   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2.4.1 Up to 3 months 2 97 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.21 [‐0.64, 0.23]
2.4.2 4 to 6 months 1 44 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.01 [‐0.72, 0.70]
2.5 Change in mid‐arm muscle circumference (cm) 3   Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2.5.1 Up to 3 months 2 81 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.43 [‐0.36, 1.22]
2.5.2 4 to 6 months 2 80 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.11 [‐1.07, 0.85]
2.6 Change in mid‐arm circumference (cm) 2   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2.6.1 Up to 3 months 2 91 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.17 [‐0.72, 0.38]
2.6.2 4 to 6 months 1 20 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.15 [‐4.30, 4.00]
2.7 Change in triceps skinfold thickness (mm) 4   Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2.7.1 Up to 3 months 3 129 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.75 [‐1.55, 0.05]
2.7.2 4 to 6 months 2 68 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.99 [‐8.96, 6.98]
2.8 Change in energy intake (kcal) 8   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2.8.1 Up to 3 months 8 327 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐1.52 [‐206.23, 203.20]
2.8.2 4 to 6 months 1 25 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐145.00 [‐598.85, 308.85]
2.9 Change in protein intake (g) 4   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2.9.1 Up to 3 months 4 221 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐13.09 [‐19.23, ‐6.96]
2.9.2 4 to 6 months 1 25 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐6.00 [‐9.91, ‐2.09]
2.10 Change in grip strength (kg force) 2   Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2.10.1 Up to 3 months 2 69 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.32 [‐1.10, 1.74]
2.10.2 4 to 6 months 1 17 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.07 [‐2.35, 2.21]
2.11 Change in global QoL 4   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2.11.1 Up to 3 months 4 283 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 1.26 [‐0.32, 2.85]
2.11.2 Up to 3 months (FAACT) 1 120 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.04 [‐0.40, 0.31]
2.11.3 4 to 6 months 1 62 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.07 [‐0.43, 0.57]
2.11.4 4 to 6 months (FAACT) 1 68 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.15 [‐0.63, 0.33]
2.11.5 12 months and over 1 63 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 10.68 [8.69, 12.67]
2.12 QoL ‐ change in physical function 3   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2.12.1 Up to 3 months 3 236 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 2.41 [‐0.79, 5.61]
2.13 QoL ‐ change in mental function 3   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2.13.1 Up to 3 months 3 232 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 3.45 [‐0.24, 7.15]
2.14 QoL ‐ change in social function 3   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2.14.1 Up to 3 months 3 232 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 3.13 [‐0.21, 6.48]
2.15 QoL ‐ change in cognitive function 3   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2.15.1 Up to 3 months 3 234 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 4.23 [0.05, 8.42]
2.16 QoL ‐ change in pain 3   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2.16.1 Up to 3 months 3 236 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐5.42 [‐11.40, 0.56]
2.17 QoL ‐ change in energy/fatigue 3   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
2.17.1 Up to 3months 3 232 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐8.41 [‐18.21, 1.39]