Do Pregnancy Vitamins and Food Supplements Help Prevent Low Birth Weight?
A modular systematic review of antenatal interventions to address undernutrition during pregnancy in the prevention of low birth weight.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Researchers looked at past studies to see if giving pregnant women extra nutrients helps babies be born at a healthy weight. They found that specific food and vitamin supplements can lower the chance of babies being born too small or stillborn, especially in areas where mothers don't get enough nutrition.
Practical Takeaways
Pregnant women in undernourished populations should prioritize balanced protein, energy, and multiple micronutrient supplements to lower risks of low birth weight and stillbirth.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Researchers looked at past studies to see if giving pregnant women extra nutrients helps babies be born at a healthy weight. They found that specific food and vitamin supplements can lower the chance of babies being born too small or stillborn, especially in areas where mothers don't get enough nutrition.
Practical Takeaways
Pregnant women in undernourished populations should prioritize balanced protein, energy, and multiple micronutrient supplements to lower risks of low birth weight and stillbirth.
Publication
Journal
The American journal of clinical nutrition
Year
2023
Authors
P. Hunter, Y. Muthiani, P. Näsänen-Gilmore, A. Koivu, Pia Pörtfors, K. Bastola, Raija Vimpeli, Juho Luoma, U. Ashorn, P. Ashorn
Related Content
Claims (5)
Giving pregnant women extra protein and calories early in their pregnancy helps lower the chances of having a baby with serious health risks.
Taking a multivitamin with many different nutrients during pregnancy in developing countries may help prevent babies from being born too small or underweight, compared to just taking iron supplements.
Taking omega-3 supplements while pregnant might help lower the chance of having a baby born too small, especially in wealthier nations.
Giving pregnant women who aren't getting enough nutrients a balanced supplement of protein and energy may help prevent complications like having a very small baby or a stillbirth.
Giving pregnant women lipid-based nutrient supplements instead of standard vitamin pills is linked to a lower chance of having a baby born too small.