Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40836314›Full record

SynthesisJournal of evidence-based medicine2025

The Efficacy of Zinc Supplementation Alone or in Combination for Improving Pregnancy and Infant Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Sha Diao, Yuan Feng, Xue Peng, Dan Liu, Liang Huang, Linan Zeng, Lingli Zhang

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of evidence-based medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Sha DiaoDepartment of Pharmacy/Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Yuan FengWest China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Xue PengKey Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Dan LiuDepartment of Pharmacy/Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8004-2056
Liang HuangDepartment of Pharmacy/Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Linan ZengDepartment of Pharmacy/Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Lingli ZhangDepartment of Pharmacy/Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5456-6339

Funding

Natural Science Foundation Project of Sichuan Province 2022NSFSC0644Sichuan Science and Technology Program 2023NSFSC1690
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo evaluate zinc supplementation's efficacy in pregnancy, addressing gaps in previous reviews regarding high-risk subgroups and combination therapies.

methodsSystematic review of six databases through March 27, 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on prenatal zinc supplementation. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2. Stratified analyses was conducted by participant or intervention characteristics, with meta-analysis or qualitative synthesis when appropriate. Sensitivity analyses was conducted by excluding studies with high risk of bias. The systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023440314).

results77 RCTs were included. Compared with no zinc, zinc monotherapy among healthy pregnant women resulted in higher serum zinc level (standard mean difference (SMD)

conclusionsZinc monotherapy may benefit healthy pregnancies and high-risk groups, but combination regimens show no additional advantages. Further research should confirm these findings.

Indexed as

Dietary SupplementsPregnancy OutcomeZincFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornPregnancyPregnancy ComplicationsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicZincinfant outcomesmeta‐analysispregnancypregnancy outcomeszinc supplementation

Identifiers

PMID40836314
PMCPMC12506952

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.