Multiple‐micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy
Abstract
Background
Multiple‐micronutrient (MMN) deficiencies often coexist among women of reproductive age in low‐ to middle‐income countries. They are exacerbated in pregnancy due to the increased demands, leading to potentially adverse effects on the mother and developing fetus. Though supplementation with MMNs has been recommended earlier because of the evidence of impact on pregnancy outcomes, a consensus is yet to be reached regarding the replacement of iron and folic acid supplementation with MMNs. Since the last update of this Cochrane review, evidence from a few large trials has recently been made available, the inclusion of which is critical to inform policy.
Objectives
To evaluate the benefits of oral multiple‐micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy on maternal, fetal and infant health outcomes.
Search methods
We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (11 March 2015) and reference lists of retrieved articles and key reviews. We also contacted experts in the field for additional and ongoing trials.
Selection criteria
All prospective randomised controlled trials evaluating MMN supplementation with iron and folic acid during pregnancy and its effects on the pregnancy outcome were eligible, irrespective of language or the publication status of the trials. We included cluster‐randomised trials, but quasi‐randomised trials were excluded.
Data collection and analysis
Two review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion and risk of bias, extracted data and checked them for accuracy. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach.
Main results
Nineteen trials (involving 138,538 women) were identified as eligible for inclusion in this review but only 17 trials (involving 137,791 women) contributed data to the review. Fifteen of these 17 trials were carried out in low and middle‐income countries and compared MMN supplements with iron and folic acid versus iron with or without folic acid. Two trials carried out in the UK compared MMN with a placebo.
MMN with iron and folic acid versus iron, with or without folic acid (15 trials): MMN resulted in a significant decrease in the number of newborn infants identified as low birthweight (LBW) (average risk ratio (RR) 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85 to 0.91; high‐quality evidence) or small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) (average RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.98; moderate‐quality evidence). No significant differences were shown for other maternal and pregnancy outcomes: preterm births (average RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.03; high‐quality evidence), stillbirth (average RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.87, 1.09; high‐quality evidence), maternal anaemia in the third trimester (average RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.24), miscarriage (average RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.03), maternal mortality (average RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.63 to 1.48), perinatal mortality (average RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.13; high‐quality evidence), neonatal mortality (average RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.22; high‐quality evidence), or risk of delivery via a caesarean section (average RR 1.04; 95% CI 0.74 to 1.46).
A number of prespecified, clinically important outcomes could not be assessed due to insufficient or non‐available data. Single trials reported results for: very preterm birth < 34 weeks, macrosomia, side‐effects of supplements, nutritional status of children, and congenital anomalies including neural tube defects and neurodevelopmental outcome: Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) scores. None of these trials reported pre‐eclampsia, placental abruption, premature rupture of membranes, cost of supplementation, and maternal well‐being or satisfaction.
When assessed according to GRADE criteria, the quality of evidence for the review's primary outcomes overall was good. Pooled results for primary outcomes were based on multiple trials with large sample sizes and precise estimates. The following outcomes were graded to be as of high quality: preterm birth, LBW, perinatal mortality, stillbirth and neonatal mortality. The outcome of SGA was graded to be of moderate quality, with evidence downgraded by one for funnel plot asymmetry and potential publication bias.
We carried out sensitivity analysis excluding trials with high levels of sample attrition (> 20%); results were consistent with the main analysis except for the findings for SGA (average RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.00). We explored heterogeneity through subgroup analyses by maternal height and body mass index (BMI), timing of supplementation and dose of iron. Subgroup differences were observed for maternal BMI for the outcome preterm birth, with significant findings among women with low BMI. Subgroup differences were also observed for maternal BMI and maternal height for the outcome SGA, indicating a significant impact among women with higher maternal BMI and height. The overall analysis of perinatal mortality, although showed a non‐significant effect of MMN supplements versus iron with or without folic acid, was found to have substantial statistical heterogeneity. Subgroup differences were observed for timing of supplementation for this outcome, indicating a significantly higher impact with late initiation of supplementation. The findings between subgroups for other primary outcomes were inconclusive.
MMN versus placebo (two trials): A single trial in the UK found no clear differences between groups for preterm birth, SGA, LBW or maternal anaemia in the third trimester. A second trial reported the number of women with pre‐eclampsia; there was no evidence of a difference between groups. Other outcomes were not reported.
Authors' conclusions
Our findings support the effect of MMN supplements with iron and folic acid in improving some birth outcomes. Overall, pregnant women who received MMN supplementation had fewer low birthweight babies and small‐for‐gestational‐age babies. The findings, consistently observed in several systematic evaluations of evidence, provide a basis to guide the replacement of iron and folic acid with MMN supplements containing iron and folic acid for pregnant women in low and middle‐income countries where MMN deficiencies are common among women of reproductive age. Efforts could focus on the integration of this intervention in maternal nutrition and antenatal care programs in low and middle‐income countries.
PICOs
Plain language summary
Multiple‐micronutrient supplementation for women during pregnancy
What is the issue?
In low‐ and middle‐income countries, many women have poor diets and are deficient in nutrients and micronutrients which are required for good health. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals that are needed by the body in very small quantities but are important for normal functioning, growth and development. During pregnancy, these women often become more deficient, with the need to provide nutrition for the baby too, and this can impact on their health and that of their babies.
Why is this important?
Combining multiple micronutrients has been suggested as a cost‐effective way to achieve multiple benefits for women during pregnancy. Micronutrient deficiencies are known to interact and a greater effect may be achieved by multiple supplementation rather than single‐nutrient supplementation, although interactions may also lead to poor absorption of some of the nutrients. High doses of some nutrients may also cause harm to the mother or her baby.
What evidence did we find?
We searched Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth's Trials Register (11 March 2015). This systematic review included 19 trials involving 138,538 women, but only 17 trials involving 137,791 women contributed data. The included trials compared pregnant women who supplemented their diets with multiple micronutrients with iron and folic acid with pregnant women who received a placebo or supplementation with iron, with or without folic acid. Overall, pregnant women who received multiple‐micronutrient supplementation had fewer low birthweight babies and small‐for‐gestational‐age babies than pregnant women who received only iron, with or without folic acid. The evidence for the main outcomes was found to be of high quality.
What does this mean?
These findings, consistently observed in several other systematic reviews of evidence, provide a strong basis to guide the replacement of iron and folic acid with multiple‐micronutrient supplements for pregnant women in low‐ and middle‐income countries countries where multiple‐micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent among women.
