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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2012 Feb;66(2):261-8.
doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2011.190. Epub 2011 Nov 16.

No effect of maternal micronutrient supplementation on early childhood growth in rural western China: 30 month follow-up evaluation of a double blind, cluster randomized controlled trial

W Wang  1 , H Yan, L Zeng, Y Cheng, D Wang, Q Li
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

No effect of maternal micronutrient supplementation on early childhood growth in rural western China: 30 month follow-up evaluation of a double blind, cluster randomized controlled trial

W Wang et al. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2012 Feb.

Abstract

Background/objectives: Little is known about the long-term effects of maternal multi-micronutrient supplementation on the growth of children during early childhood. In this follow-up study, the effects of maternal supplementation with multi-micronutrients in pregnancy on postnatal child growth are examined.

Subjects/methods: A longitudinal follow-up of a subset of newborns (n=1388) whose mothers were randomly assigned to receive the supplements of folic acid, iron-folic acid or multi-micronutrients daily during pregnancy in the original trial was conducted. Children's weight and length were measured and assessed during monthly home visits from birth to 30 months of age.

Results: The pooled prevalence rate of stunting over different time points during the first 30 months was 13.5, 14.9 and 12.1% for the folic acid group, iron-folic acid group and multi-micronutrient group, respectively. However, there were no significant differences in the pooled odds of stunting in children between the multi-micronutrient group and the folic acid (odds ratio (OR) 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74-1.26), and between the multi-micronutrient group and the iron-folic acid group (OR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.63-1.07). Similar results for the three groups were found for the occurrences of underweight and wasting in children. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in length, weight, length-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-length Z-scores among the three treatment groups.

Conclusions: Currently, available evidence is insufficient to support a greater advantage of the effect of maternal multi-micronutrient supplementation on child growth over iron-folic acid or folic acid only supplementation during the first 30 months.

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