Supplementation of Maternal Diets during Pregnancy and for 6 Months Postpartum and Infant Diets Thereafter with Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements Does Not Promote Child Growth by 18 Months of Age in Rural Malawi: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Study answer

What this study found

Overall, the combined maternal and child SQ-LNS regimen did not improve child growth by 18 months. Mean length was similar across groups at 18 months: 76.8 cm in the LNS arm versus 77.0 cm with iron and folic acid and 76.9 cm with multiple micronutrients; mean LAZ was also similar at -1.69, -1.63, and -1.64, respectively. There were no meaningful differences in weight, head circumference, midupper arm circumference, or stunting prevalence. A slower postnatal length gain in the LNS group versus the iron and folic acid group was observed, but it attenuated after adjustment for birth size;…

Study & population

Randomized controlled trial in rural Malawi among pregnant women and their singleton children, followed from pregnancy through 18 months of age.

Intervention

In the active LNS arm, mothers received small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements during pregnancy and for 6 months postpartum as 1 daily 20 g sachet taken orally, providing 118 kcal and 21 micronutrients plus additional minerals, protein, and fat.

Key limitation

Single-site rural Malawi trial with a high-burden setting of food insecurity and maternal undernutrition, which may limit generalizability.

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Original abstract