TABLE 7.

Summary of forest plot analyses of the effect of zinc supplementation in infants and children aged ≤3 y on iron deficiency (OR), analyzed by duration, chemical formula, and comparator group

		References	Mean difference	95% CI	P	I 2
By treatment duration	0–3 mo	(73)	0.58	0.29, 1.18		NA
	>3 mo	(12, 29, 31, 34, 47, 53, 59, 70, 71)	1.02	0.77, 1.24		29
	Overall		0.98	0.77, 1.24	0.87	32
By chemical formula	Zn gluconate	(73)	0.58	0.29, 1.18		NA
	Zn sulfate	(12, 29, 34, 47, 71)	1.14	0.82, 1.60		34
	Not stated	(31, 53, 70)	1.04	0.80, 1.34		0
	Other	(59)	0.97	0.37, 2.53		NA
	Overall		1.01	0.83, 1.23	0.89	12
Zinc vs. placebo		(12, 29, 53, 59, 70, 71)	1.04	0.79, 1.37	0.79	13

¹NA, not applicable.