Table 1.

Characteristics of patients in nine trials included in meta-analysis of trials looking at prevention of diarrhoea

				Mean age (years)
Trial	No of patients	Sex ratio (male:female)	Route of administration	Treatment group	Placebo group
Adam et al³¹	388	49:51	Oral	39	38
Gotz et al³²	79	44:56	Oral	64	65
Surawicz et al³³	180	69:31	Oral or by nasogastric tube	49	45
Wunderlich et al³⁴	45	36:64	Oral	33	33
Tankanow et al³⁵	38	58:42	Oral	2.4	2.4
Orrhage et al³⁶	20	30:70	Oral	37	37
McFarland et al³⁷	193	65:35	Oral	41	42
Lewis et al³⁸	69	Not provided	Oral	75	77
Vanderhoof et al³⁹	202	45:55	Oral	4	4