Persson, Lars Åke, et al. “Effects of Prenatal Micronutrient and Early Food Supplementation on Maternal Hemoglobin, Birth Weight, and Infant Mortality among Children in Bangladesh: The MINIMat Randomized Trial.” JAMA 307, no. 19 (May 16, 2012): 2050-9.

URL: jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1157489#Abstract

Abstract

Context: Nutritional insult in fetal life and small size at birth are common in low-income countries and are associated with serious health consequences.

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that prenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) and an early invitation to food supplementation would increase maternal hemoglobin level and birth weight and decrease infant mortality, and to assess whether a combination of these interventions would further enhance these outcomes.

Persson et al. evaluate the implementation of two interventions – prenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) and an earlier invitation to food supplementation on maternal and neonatal outcomes in Bangladesh, including maternal hemoglobin, birth weight, and infant mortality. The authors found that the effects of each intervention alone were inconclusive, but combining both interventions reduced infant and childhood mortality.