title: Prenatal food supplementation fortified with multiple micronutrients increases birth length: a randomized controlled trial in rural Burkina Faso.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prenatal multiple micronutrient (MMN) or balanced energy and protein supplementation has a limited effect on birth size of the offspring.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to determine whether a prenatal MMN-fortified food supplement (FFS) improves anthropometric measures at birth compared with supplementation with an MMN pill alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a nonblinded, individually randomized controlled trial in 1296 pregnant women in 2 villages in rural Burkina Faso. Supplements were provided on a daily basis, and compliance was closely verified by using a community-based network of home visitors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anthropometric measures at birth were available for analysis for 87% of the 1175 live singleton deliveries enrolled. After adjustment for gestational age at birth, the FFS group had a significantly higher birth length (+4.6 mm; P = 0.001). FFS supplementation resulted in a modestly higher birth weight (+31 g; P = 0.197). Subgroup analyses showed clinically important treatment effects on birth length (+12.0 mm; P = 0.005) and on birth weight (+111 g; P = 0.133) for underweight [body mass index (in kg/m(2)) <18.5] pregnant women. Women with early pregnancy anemia who received FFS gave birth to longer newborns (+7.3 mm; P = 0.002) than did those who received MMN supplementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The provision of FFS to pregnant women resulted in higher birth length than did MMN supplementation. For women with a suboptimal prepregnancy nutritional status, MMN supplementation should be complemented with a balanced energy and protein supplement to produce a clinical effect on birth size. The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00909974.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huybregts
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roberfroid
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lanou
authors.forename: Joris
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Menten
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meda
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Camp
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kolsteren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients