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. 2022 Sep 2;13(6):2488–2518. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmac088

TABLE 3.

Summary of forest plot analyses of the effect of zinc supplementation intake in infants and children aged ≤3 y on hemoglobin (g/L), analyzed by duration, chemical formula, and comparator group1

Group/subgroup References Mean difference 95% CI P I 2
Children receiving interventions for <3 mo by zinc dose
 <5 mg/d (48) −5.40 −24.21, 13.41 NA
 5–10 mg/d (48, 73) −5.26 −8.98, −1.54 0
 10.1-20 mg/d (51) 0.40 −3.67, 4.47 NA
 Overall −3.13 −6.82, 0.57 0.10 24
Children receiving interventions for >3 mo by zinc dose
 <5 mg/d (8, 19, 34, 72) 0.39 −2.70, 3.48 33
 5–10 mg/d (12, 13, 26, 29, 31, 35–40, 43, 47, 53, 62, 64, 65, 70–72) −0.21 −1.20, 0.77 63
 10.1–20 mg/d (54, 58, 59) −0.13 −1.39, 1.12 0
 Zn bolus2 (18, 28, 33) −1.24 −2.53, 0.06 0
 Overall −0.25 −1.00, 0.50 0.51 54
Children receiving zinc through zinc sulfate by zinc dose
 <5 mg/d (8, 34, 48, 72) 1.82 −0.89, 4.53 0
 5–10 mg/d (12, 13, 26, 29, 35, 39, 40, 47, 48, 65, 71, 72) −0.97 −2.51, 0.56 66
 10.1–20 mg/d (54, 58, 59) −0.03 −1.54, 1.49 0
 Overall −0.46 −1.60, 0.68 0.43 54
Children receiving zinc through zinc acetate by zinc dose
 Zn bolus2 (28, 33) −1.30 −2.62, 0.01 0
 Overall −1.30 −2.62, 0.01 0.05 0
Children receiving zinc through an unstated approach by zinc dose
 5–10 mg/d (31, 36, 43, 53, 70) 0.59 −1.01, 2.18 66
 10.1–20 mg/d (54) −0.80 −4.80, 3.20 NA
 Overall 0.47 −1.01, 1.96 0.53 0
Children receiving zinc through an “other” approach by zinc dose
 <5 mg/d (19) −5.10 −10.24, 0.04 NA
 10.1–20 mg/d (59) 0.00 −2.24, 2.24 0
 Overall −1.06 −3.73, 1.62 0.44 37
Children receiving zinc vs. placebo by zinc dose
 <5 mg/d (19, 72) −1.12 −9.70, 7.47 73
 5–10 mg/d (12, 13, 29, 36, 39, 40, 43, 47, 53, 64, 65, 70–72) 0.25 −1.11, 1.61 52
 10.1–20 mg/d (58, 59) −0.18 −2.09, 1.73 0
 Zn bolus2 (18, 28, 33) −1.04 −2.39, 0.31 0
 Overall −0.10 −1.10, 0.90 0.84 43
Children receiving low- compared with high-dose zinc
 5–10 mg/d (43, 48, 72) 0.35 −1.89, 2.58 0
 Overall 0.35 −1.89, 2.58 0.76 0
1

NA, not applicable.

2

Bolus doses given as follows: Brooks et al. (33) 21 mg given weekly; Baqui et al. (28) 20 mg given weekly; Bates et al. (18) 70 mg given twice weekly.