TABLE 2.
Pooled effects of MMS compared with IFA on length, LAZ, stunting (fixed effects).
| Effect of MMS vs. IFA | Length (cm) |
LAZ score |
Stunting (LAZ <−2) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of studies | No. of infants | Mean difference (95% CI), fixed effects | No. of studies | No. of infants | Mean difference (95% CI), fixed effects | Risk ratio (95% CI), fixed effects | |
| Birth | 14 | 43,546 | 0.05 (0.02, 0.08) | 8 | 25,664 | 0.09 (0.06, 0.12) | 0.91 (0.88, 0.95) |
| 3 mo | 7 | 24,669 | 0.18 (0.12, 0.24) | 7 | 24,625 | 0.09 (0.06, 0.12) | 0.86 (0.82, 0.91) |
| 6 mo | 9 | 18,878 | 0.08 (0.01, 0.16) | 9 | 18,850 | 0.04 (0.01, 0.07) | 0.96 (0.91, 1.02) |
| 12 mo | 7 | 16,314 | 0.05 (−0.03, 0.14) | 7 | 14,293 | 0.02 (−0.02, 0.06) | 1.01 (0.97, 1.06) |
| 18 mo | 5 | 2937 | 0.20 (−0.03, 0.43) | 5 | 2927 | 0.01 (−0.06, 0.09) | 0.99 (0.90, 1.09) |
| 24 mo | 4 | 8450 | −0.06 (−0.20, 0.08) | 5 | 8693 | −0.03 (−0.07, 0.02) | 1.03 (0.98, 1.07) |
The table shows the generic inverse variance weighted pooled mean differences or pooled risk ratios with their corresponding 95% CIs comparing MMS and IFA intervention groups. Number of infants were calculated from effective sample sizes.
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; IFA, iron and folic acid supplements; LAZ, length-for-age z-score; MMS, multiple micronutrient supplementation.