Research paper
Multiple-micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy.
Study answer
What this study found
Multiple micronutrient supplementation with iron and folic acid reduced low birthweight and small-for-gestational-age births compared with iron and folic acid alone. There were no consistent improvements for preterm birth, perinatal mortality, stillbirth, or neonatal mortality. The review concluded that the findings support replacing iron and folic acid with multiple micronutrient supplements containing iron and folic acid in settings where micronutrient deficiencies are common. Trials from the United Kingdom showed no clear differences when multiple micronutrients were compared with placebo.
- Study & population
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of pregnancy trials in women, mainly from low- and middle-income countries, with some studies from the United Kingdom.
- Intervention
- Oral multiple micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy, generally given once daily.
- Key limitation
- Formulations, doses, and co-nutrient content varied substantially across trials, which limits direct comparability.
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Open PDFOriginal abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple-micronutrient (MMN) deficiencies often coexist among women of reproductive age in low- to middle-income countries. They are exacerbated in pregnancy due to the increased demands, leading to potentially adverse effects on the mothe…