SEM of variables associated with hepcidin. A single SEM was created, grouped by site. The sizes of the associations are indicated by the standardized regression coefficients. *P < .005. A positive association is indicated by a black line, an inverse association by a red line, and a nonsignificant association by a dotted line. In Gambian children, age was additionally associated with log-ferritin levels (β 0.24; P < .0005), log-sTfR (β −0.17; P < .0005), and Hb levels (β 0.25; P < .0005); data not shown for simplicity. The R² was 0.49 for the Gambian group and 0.58 for the Kenyan group. The standard error (ε) was 0.02 for the Gambian group and 0.02 for the Kenyan group. The overall CFI was 1.0, and the RMSEA was <0.005 indicating a good fit.