It is well known that a pregnant woman needs good nutrients, but in a developing country like Bangladesh it is common to find pregnant malnourished ‘carrying’ women.
Not much is known about the optimal timings for feeding an underweight or low BMI pregnant woman or about the effects of Multiple Micronutrients Supplement (MMS) interventions on postnatal child growth.
Pregnancy and Diet/Diet during Pregnancy – Healthy Foods, Foods to Avoid
Pregnant women should pay special attention to their diet. The diet before and during pregnancy should be rich in calories, proteins, vitamins and minerals.
Pregnant women should pay special attention to their diet. The diet before and during pregnancy should be rich in calories, proteins, vitamins and minerals.
In the large, randomized trial, 4436 pregnant women and their children were studied for 6- 8 years. The women were given supplements either early (immediately after pregnancy) or later (during their own time of choice).
The nutrient supplement categories included-
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If left untreated, 25 to 30 percent of these women develop pyelonephritis. Pregnancies that are complicated by pyelonephritis have been associated with low-birth-weight infants and prematurity.
If left untreated, 25 to 30 percent of these women develop pyelonephritis. Pregnancies that are complicated by pyelonephritis have been associated with low-birth-weight infants and prematurity.
• 60 mg Fe and 400 ug folic acid (Fe60F) or
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The Multiple Micronutrients Supplement (MMS) group received 15 different vitamins and minerals and contained various combinations of micronutrients. The women in the study were given food supplements in powder form consisting of roasted rice powder, roasted pulse powder, molasses and soybean oil. This was to be mixed with water to be consumed.
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The study revealed that the children (especially boys) of women who received food intervention early on were less likely to be stunted during the first five years of their life. However, children born to women who received multiple micronutrients were more likely to be stunted in comparison to the standard iron- folate combination.
Why MMS intervention during prenatal period promoted stunting is unclear! Studies conducted in other part of the world suggested the contrary.
One of the reasons could be that the micronutrients interacted among themselves to produce adverse effects. The other reason could be that the dose was too small to benefit fetal development.
The WHO recommends iron and folate supplements to pregnant women. The present study did not discover any greater benefit on the fetus by the additional consumption of Multiple Micronutrients Supplement.
Reference: “Effects of prenatal food and micronutrient supplementation on child growth from birth to 54 months of age: a randomized trial in Bangladesh”Ashraful Isalm Khan et al; BMC Nutrition Journal 2011.
Source-Medindia
