| Study characteristics |
| Methods |
Single centre, quasi‐randomized trial. not clear how admission sequence affected randomization |
| Participants |
Bwt < 2500 g, GA 26‐36 weeks |
| Interventions |
Two groups of 80 each, one group randomized to lactoferrin and other to placebo |
| Outcomes |
The primary outcome was late‐onset sepsis and secondary outcomes were NEC, 'in hospital mortality', pneumonia and length of hospitalization. |
| Notes |
North China‐ ZhengZhou Peoples hospital, March 2012‐ June 2014 |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Possibly a quasi‐randomized trial due to sequence of participant admission |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
No details available |
| Blinding (performance bias and detection bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
No details available |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Low risk |
None noted |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Unclear risk |
Difficult to assess |
| Other bias |
Unclear risk |
None noted |
| Completeness of follow‐up |
Low risk |
Yes |
| Blinding of outcome assessment |
Unclear risk |
Not explicitly stated |
