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. 2011 Dec 7;2011(12):CD009085. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009085.pub2

Comparison 5. Intermittent iron supplementation versus placebo or no intervention: children 5 ‐ 12 years.

Outcome or subgroup title No. of studies No. of participants Statistical method Effect size
1 Anaemia (ALL) 6 1166 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.54 [0.33, 0.90]
2 Anaemia (by dose) 6 1166 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.54 [0.33, 0.90]
2.1 25 mg or less/week 0 0 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
2.2 Greater than 25 mg to 75 mg/week 4 755 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.47 [0.21, 1.02]
2.3 Greater than 75 mg/week 2 411 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.71 [0.48, 1.04]
3 Anaemia (by duration) 6 1166 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.54 [0.33, 0.90]
3.1 0 to three months 2 848 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.77 [0.67, 0.89]
3.2 More than three months 4 318 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.44 [0.16, 1.24]
4 Anaemia (by type of compound) 6 1166 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.54 [0.33, 0.90]
4.1 Ferrous sulphate 6 1166 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.54 [0.33, 0.90]
4.2 Ferrous fumarate 0 0 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
4.3 Other 0 0 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
5 Anaemia (by anaemia status at baseline) 6 1166 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.54 [0.33, 0.90]
5.1 Anaemic 1 117 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.14 [0.07, 0.27]
5.2 Non‐anaemic 1 64 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.78 [0.27, 2.31]
5.3 Mixed/unknown 4 985 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.73 [0.54, 0.98]
6 Anaemia (by intermittent regimen) 6 1166 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.54 [0.33, 0.90]
6.1 One supplement a week 6 1166 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.54 [0.33, 0.90]
6.2 Other intermittent regimen 0 0 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
7 Anaemia (by sex) 6 1166 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.59 [0.40, 0.86]
7.1 Girls 1 248 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.75 [0.59, 0.95]
7.2 Boys 1 253 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.81 [0.66, 1.00]
7.3 Mixed/unknown 5 665 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.49 [0.24, 1.01]
8 Anaemia (by nutrient) 6 1166 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.54 [0.33, 0.90]
8.1 Iron alone 4 573 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.39 [0.17, 0.90]
8.2 Iron + folic acid 2 593 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.83 [0.66, 1.03]
8.3 Iron + multiple micronutrients 0 0 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
9 Haemoglobin (ALL) 10 1778 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 4.04 [0.30, 7.78]
10 Haemoglobin (by dose of elemental iron in the intermittent group) 10 1778 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 4.04 [0.30, 7.78]
10.1 25 mg or less/week 0 0 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
10.2 Greater than 25 mg to 75 mg/week 6 1129 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 5.24 [‐0.78, 11.26]
10.3 Group: greater than 75 mg/week 4 649 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 1.84 [0.25, 3.44]
11 Haemoglobin (by duration of the supplementation) 10 1778 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 4.04 [0.30, 7.78]
11.1 0 to three months 3 973 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 3.13 [1.49, 4.77]
11.2 More than three months 7 805 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 4.38 [‐1.20, 9.96]
12 Haemoglobin (by type of iron compound) 10 1778 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 4.04 [0.30, 7.78]
12.1 Ferrous sulphate 7 1415 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 4.59 [‐0.30, 9.47]
12.2 Ferrous fumarate 1 125 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 3.4 [‐4.09, 10.89]
12.3 Other 2 238 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 1.79 [‐1.25, 4.84]
13 Haemoglobin (by anaemia status at baseline) 10 1778 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 4.04 [0.30, 7.78]
13.1 Anaemic 1 115 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 18.30 [15.55, 21.05]
13.2 Non‐anaemic 1 64 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 2.0 [‐2.46, 6.46]
13.3 Mixed/unknown 8 1599 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 2.37 [1.17, 3.57]
14 Haemoglobin (by supplementation regimen) 10 1868 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 4.04 [0.45, 7.62]
14.1 One supplement a week 9 1647 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 4.43 [0.21, 8.65]
14.2 Other intermittent regimen 2 221 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 1.17 [‐1.27, 3.61]
15 Haemoglobin (by sex) 10 1778 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 4.03 [0.51, 7.55]
15.1 Girls 1 248 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 4.0 [0.83, 7.17]
15.2 Boys 1 253 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 3.70 [0.58, 6.82]
15.3 Mixed/unknown 9 1277 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 4.05 [‐0.37, 8.46]
16 Haemoglobin (by nutrient) 10 1778 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 4.04 [0.30, 7.78]
16.1 Iron alone 6 1022 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 4.98 [‐0.71, 10.68]
16.2 Iron + folic acid 4 756 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 2.91 [0.65, 5.16]
16.3 Iron + multiple micronutrients 0 0 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
17 Ferritin (ALL) 1 240 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 16.6 [11.12, 22.08]
18 All cause morbidity (ALL) 1 194 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 0.26 [0.03, 2.24]
19 Any side effects (ALL) 1 53 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 3.87 [0.19, 76.92]
20 Nausea 1 64 Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI) 2.82 [0.12, 66.82]
21 IQ (ALL) 1 252 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐3.00 [‐5.96, ‐0.04]
22 Thai language (ALL) 1 208 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.30 [‐0.50, ‐0.09]
23 Mathematics (ALL) 1 233 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.27 [‐0.44, ‐0.10]
24 Increase in steps climbed (ALL) 1 60 Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) 8.0 [‐0.72, 16.72]
25 WAZ 1 64 Std. Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI) ‐0.24 [‐0.74, 0.25]
26 HAZ 1 64 Mean Difference (IV, Fixed, 95% CI) ‐0.24 [‐0.69, 0.21]