TABLE 10.
Summary of forest plot analyses of the effect of zinc supplementation in infants and children aged ≤3 y on hematocrit (proportion), analyzed by duration of intervention, chemical formula, and comparator group1
| References | Mean difference | 95% CI | P | I 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By treatment duration | 0–3 mo | (51) | −0.01 | −0.04, 0.02 | NA | |
| >3 mo | (8, 19, 31, 62, 65) | 0.00 | −0.01, 0.01 | 28 | ||
| Overall | −0.00 | −0.01, 0.01 | 0.97 | 17 | ||
| By chemical formula | Zn gluconate | (62) | 0.02 | 0.00, 0.03 | NA | |
| Zn sulfate | (8, 51, 65) | 0.00 | −0.01, 0.01 | 0 | ||
| Not stated | (31) | −0.00 | −0.00, 0.00 | NA | ||
| Other | (19) | −0.01 | −0.02, 0.01 | NA | ||
| Overall | −0.00 | −0.01, 0.01 | 0.97 | 17 | ||
| Zinc vs. placebo | (19, 65) | −0.00 | −0.01, 0.01 | 0.51 | 0 |
1
NA, not applicable.