Multiple micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy does not lead to greater infant birth size than does iron-only supplementation: a randomized controlled trial in a semirural community in Mexico.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the benefits of prenatal multivitamin and mineral supplements in reducing low birth weight.


OBJECTIVE
We conducted a randomized, double-blind clinical trial in semirural Mexico to compare the effects of multiple micronutrient (MM) supplements with those of iron supplements during pregnancy on birth size.


METHODS
Pregnant women (n = 873) were recruited before 13 wk of gestation and received supplements 6 d/wk at home, as well as routine antenatal care, until delivery. Both supplements contained 60 mg Fe, but the MM group also received 1-1.5 times the recommended dietary allowances of several micronutrients.


RESULTS
At recruitment, the women in the 2 groups were not significantly different in age, parity, economic status, height, or hemoglobin concentration but differed significantly in marital status (4.6% and 2.0% of women in the MM and iron-only groups, respectively, were single mothers) and mean (+/- SD) body mass index (in kg/m(2); 24.6 +/- 4.3 and 23.8 +/- 3.9 in the iron-only and MM groups, respectively). Losses to follow-up (25%) and compliance (95%) did not differ significantly between the groups. In intent-to-treat analyses (MM group: n = 323; iron-only group: n = 322), mean (+/- SD) birth weight (2.981 +/- 0.391 and 2.977 +/- 0.393 kg in the MM and iron-only groups, respectively) and birth length (48.61 +/- 1.82 and 48.66 +/- 1.83 cm in the MM and iron-only groups, respectively) did not differ significantly between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that MM supplementation during pregnancy does not lead to greater infant birth size than does iron-only supplementation.
Ramakrishnan
Usha
U
Department of International Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. uramakr@sph.emory.edu
González-Cossío
Teresa
T
Neufeld
Lynnette M
LM
Rivera
Juan
J
Martorell
Reynaldo
R
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008800:Mexico; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012423:Rural Health
D018977:Micronutrients; D007501:Iron