The 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
This study looks at many smaller studies to see if giving extra food or supplements to pregnant women helps their babies be healthier. It can give us good hints about what might work, but because the original studies weren't perfect, we can't say for sure that the food alone caused the better outcomes.
Analysis score
Maximum 100 for a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Where the score came from
This review looked at whether giving pregnant women extra protein, food packages, or diet advice in poorer countries helps their babies.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 533 / 100
Quality score
The highest quality evidence. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses that pool randomized controlled trials, giving the most reliable summary of experimental evidence.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1These changes matter greatly in resource-limited settings where malnutrition and stillbirth are common, though more high-quality research is needed to confirm the results.
- 2Protein supplements cut stillbirth risk by 61% and boosted baby weight by 107g.
- 3Food packages cut childhood stunting by 18%.
- 4Diet advice for overweight moms cut baby weight by 196g.
- 5No effect on early birth or newborn death.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Campbell Systematic Reviews
Year
2021
Authors
Z. Lassi, Z. Padhani, Amna Rabbani, Fahad Rind, Rehana A Salam, Z. Bhutta
Related Content
Claims (7)
Giving pregnant women extra protein and calories early in their pregnancy helps lower the chances of having a baby with serious health risks.
Giving pregnant women in developing countries a balanced supplement with extra energy and protein helps their babies be born heavier and lowers the chance of the baby being born too small.
Giving extra food to pregnant women in developing countries helps babies be born slightly heavier and longer. Even though the increase is small, it's a consistent and positive improvement for newborn health.
Giving extra nutritious food to pregnant mothers in developing countries can help prevent their children from being too short or underweight later in life. This extra support during pregnancy leads to better physical growth and development for the baby.
Giving pregnant women in developing countries extra protein and energy supplements doesn't seem to change how often babies are born too early or die shortly after birth. While it might help the baby grow better and prevent stillbirths, it doesn't change when the baby is born or save newborns from dying.
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.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.