Summary of included studies
| Study name | Intervention total daily dose (mg) | Comparison group(s) | Underlying condition | Participants (n) | Length of trial (weeks) | Jadad score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randomised control trials vs placebo | ||||||
| Monfared et al2 | MA 80 | Placebo | ESRF | 22 | 8 | 3 |
| Von Roenn et al27 | MA 100 v 400 v 800 | Four-arm trial* | AIDS | 270 | 12 | 3 |
| Weisberg et al28 | MA 800 | Placebo | COPD | 145 | 8 | 3 |
| Yeh et al29 | MA 800 | Placebo | Geriatric cachexia | 69 | 12 | 5 |
| Randomised control trials vs other interventions | ||||||
| Batterham and Garsia30 | MA 400 | Three-arm trial:† | HIV | 15 | 12 | 2 |
| Mulligan et al31 | MA 800 | MA plus‡ | HIV | 79 | 12 | 5 |
| Mwamburi et al32 | MA plus dietary advice 800 | Oxandrolone | HIV | 39 | 8 | 3 |
| Rochon et al33 | Medroxyprogesterone plus§ 400 | Placebo plus§ | HIV | 12 | 5 | 3 |
| Summerbell et al34 | MA 40 plus¶ | Cyproheptadine | HIV | 14 | 12 | 1 |
| Timpone et al35 | MA 750 | Four-arm trial:** | HIV | 50 | 12 | 2 |
| Wanke et al36 | MA concentrated solution 575 v 800 | Oral solution (800 mg OD) | HIV | 63 | 12 | 3 |
| Yeh et al37 | MA 800 | MA plus†† | ESRF | 9 | 24 | 5 |
| Non-randomised trials | ||||||
| Gołębiewska et al38 | MA 160 | ESRF | 32 | Up to 6 months (analysis at 8 weeks) | ||
| Graham et al39 | MA 800 | AIDS | 14 | 3 | ||
| Lien and Ruffenach40 | MA 40 | ESRF | 16 | 8 | ||
| Mwamburi et al41 | MA plus‡‡ 800 | HIV | 29 | 7 months | ||
| Rammohan et al42 | MA 400 | ESRF | 16 | 16 | ||
| Von Roenn et al43 | MA 320 plus§§ | HIV | 22 | Up to 72 weeks | ||
*(a) 100 mg OD, (b) 400 mg OD, (c) 800 mg OD and (d) placebo.
†(a) Dietary counselling (b) nandrolone decanoate (100 mg/fortnight intramuscular injection) (c) megestrol acetate (400 mg/day oral).
‡MA plus testosterone versus MA plus placebo.
§Nutritional support, amino acid supplementation and protein drinks.
¶Increased by 40 mg alternate weeks to maximum dose of 160 mg if no weight gain.
**(a) Dronabinol 2.5 mg BD, (b) MA 750 mg OD, (c) MA 750 OD plus dronabinol 2.5 mg BD and (d) MA 250 mg OD plus dronabinol 2.5 mg OD.
††Physical training versus placebo plus physical training.
‡‡Dietary advice plus oxandrolone.
§§Increased by 140 mg if no weight gain after 12 weeks.
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ESRF, end-stage renal failure; MA, megestrol acetate.