The Claim

Balanced energy and protein supplementation during pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries may reduce the risk of stillbirth by approximately 61%.

Source: Effects of nutritional interventions during pregnancy on birth, child health and development outcomes: A systematic review of evidence from low‐ and middle‐income countries

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
33score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Cause and effect
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Giving pregnant women in lower-income countries extra protein and calorie supplements might cut the chance of babies being born dead by about 60%. While the results look promising, researchers note that more high-quality studies are needed to be completely sure.

See the scientific wording

Balanced energy protein supplementation during pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries may reduce the risk of stillbirth by approximately 61% (risk ratio 0.39, 95% CI 0.19–0.80), based on pooled data from three trials involving 1,913 women. This suggests that providing macronutrient-rich supplements to at-risk pregnant populations could substantially decrease late fetal mortality, though evidence certainty remains low due to methodological limitations in primary studies.

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Effects of nutritional interventions during pregnancy on birth, child health and development outcomes: A systematic review of evidence from low‐ and middle‐income countries

    The study confirms that giving pregnant women in poorer countries extra protein and energy supplements can cut the chance of stillbirth by about 60%, though the researchers note the evidence isn't perfectly solid yet.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

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