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

Comparison 3. Dietary advice compared with dietary advice plus nutritional supplements.

Outcome or subgroup title No. of studies No. of participants Statistical method Effect size
3.1 Mortality 13   Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
3.1.1 Up to 3 months 10 777 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.92 [0.47, 1.80]
3.1.2 4 to 6 months 5 373 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 1.03 [0.53, 2.00]
3.1.3 7 to 12 months 1 176 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.96 [0.58, 1.58]
3.2 Number of people admitted or readmitted to hospital 2 142 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 1.20 [0.58, 2.48]
3.2.1 Up to 3 months 1 114 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 1.70 [1.04, 2.77]
3.2.2 4 to 6 months 1 28 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.84 [0.50, 1.42]
3.3 Length of hospital stay (days) 2 202 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐1.07 [‐4.10, 1.97]
3.3.1 Up to 3 months 2 202 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐1.07 [‐4.10, 1.97]
3.4 Complications 4 345 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.79 [0.60, 1.05]
3.4.1 Up to 3 months 3 317 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.75 [0.56, 0.99]
3.4.2 4 to 6 months 1 28 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI) 1.92 [0.57, 6.54]
3.5 Change in weight (kg) 16   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
3.5.1 Up to 3 months 14 931 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 1.15 [0.42, 1.87]
3.5.2 4 to 6 months 4 209 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 2.27 [‐0.44, 4.98]
3.5.3 7 to 12 months 1 31 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.14 [‐4.24, 4.52]
3.6 Change in BMI (kg/m²) 7 378 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.42 [‐0.31, 1.16]
3.6.1 Up to 3 months 6 350 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.51 [‐0.30, 1.33]
3.6.2 Four to six months 1 28 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.10 [‐0.47, 0.27]
3.7 Change in fat free mass (kg) 3   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
3.7.1 Up to 3 months 3 187 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.10 [‐0.18, 0.39]
3.8 Change in mid‐arm muscle circumference (cm) 5   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
3.8.1 Up to 3 months 4 241 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.78 [0.37, 1.18]
3.8.2 4 to 6 months 2 60 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 1.20 [‐0.63, 3.03]
3.9 Change in triceps skinfold thickness (mm) 6 393 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 1.06 [0.14, 1.97]
3.9.1 Up to 3 months 6 393 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 1.06 [0.14, 1.97]
3.10 Change in energy intake (kcal) 9   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
3.10.1 Up to 3 months 7 464 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 344.46 [164.21, 524.71]
3.10.2 4 to 6 months 3 75 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 362.75 [128.53, 596.97]
3.11 Final energy intake (kcal/day) 4 140 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 303.81 [110.58, 497.03]
3.11.1 Up to 3 months 4 140 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 303.81 [110.58, 497.03]
3.12 Change in protein intake (g) 3   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
3.12.1 Up to 3 months 3 230 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 12.21 [6.39, 18.03]
3.12.2 4 to 6 months 1 32 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 16.20 [4.83, 27.57]
3.13 Final protein intake (g/day) 6 239 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 11.76 [5.59, 17.93]
3.13.1 Up to 3 months 6 239 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) 11.76 [5.59, 17.93]
3.14 Change in grip strength (kg force) 6   Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
3.14.1 Up to 3 months 6 537 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 1.07 [‐0.22, 2.37]
3.15 Change in global QoL 4   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
3.15.1 Up to 3 months 4 321 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.33 [0.09, 0.57]
3.15.2 Up to 3 months (FAACT) 1 113 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.02 [‐0.39, 0.35]
3.15.3 4 to 6 months 2 90 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.35 [‐0.55, 1.24]
3.15.4 4 to 6 months (FAACT) 1 62 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.40 [‐0.90, 0.10]
3.16 QoL ‐ change in physical function 4   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
3.16.1 Up to 3 months 4 324 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.51 [0.08, 0.95]
3.16.2 4 to 6 months 1 32 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.08 [‐0.62, 0.77]
3.17 QoL ‐ change in mental function 4   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
3.17.1 Up to 3 months 4 316 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.29 [‐0.25, 0.83]
3.17.2 4 to 6 months 1 32 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.27 [‐0.42, 0.97]
3.18 QoL ‐ change in social function 3   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
3.18.1 up to 3 months 3 214 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.06 [‐0.33, 0.45]
3.18.2 4 to 6 months 1 32 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.87 [0.14, 1.60]
3.19 QoL ‐ change in cognitive function 2   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
3.19.1 Up to 3 months 2 137 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.11 [‐0.23, 0.45]
3.19.2 4 to 6 months 1 32 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.40 [‐0.30, 1.10]
3.20 QoL ‐ change in pain 3   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
3.20.1 Up to 3 months 3 219 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.06 [‐0.36, 0.23]
3.20.2 4 to 6 months 1 32 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.12 [‐0.57, 0.82]
3.21 QoL ‐ change in energy/fatigue 3   Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) Subtotals only
3.21.1 Up to 3 months 3 218 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.16 [‐0.84, 0.51]
3.21.2 4 to 6 months 1 32 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.31 [‐1.01, 0.38]