The results of the NMA revealed the following findings regarding the incidence of NEC: arginine therapy was associated with lower incidence of NEC compared lactoferrin (RR = 0.39, 95%CI: 0.18, 0.87), EPO (RR = 2.25, 95%CI: 1.07, 4.75), glutamine (RR = 3.08, 95%CI: 1.34, 7.10) and placebo (RR = 3.12, 95%CI: 1.55, 6.31). Here, LTF is linked to necrotizing enterocolitis.