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Evidence summaries

Multiple-Micronutrient Supplementation (Mms) during Pregnancy

Multiple-micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy in low or middle-income countries appears to decrease the number of low birthweight babies. Level of evidence: "B"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 21 trials in low or middle-income countries (n=142 496). When compared with iron and folate supplementation, MMS decreased the number of low birthweight babies (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.91; 18 trials, n=6 8 801), small-for-gestational-age babies (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.97; 17 trials, n=57 348). No statistically significant differences were shown for the outcomes of preterm births and perinatal mortality, or maternal mortality in any of the comparisons.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (unclear allocation concealment in half of the studies).

References

  • Keats EC, Haider BA, Tam E et al. Multiple-micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019;(3):CD004905. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords