A recent study reveals that improving women's nutrition during pregnancy can make a significant difference to the health of newborns, especially in areas suffering from poor food security.
The study, led by epidemiologist Dongcheng Wang of George Mason University, showed that balanced energy and protein (BEP) supplements may contribute to improved birth weight and reduced complications associated with maternal malnutrition in low- and middle-income countries.
The researchers relied on an analysis of data from eight clinical trials conducted in countries in Africa and South Asia, including Nepal, Gambia and Pakistan, in which the outcomes of pregnant women who received BEP supplements were compared with those who did not.
These supplements — which are food products such as drinks or pastes rich in calories and protein — were found to be associated with better birth outcomes, particularly in terms of increased birth weight and lower rates of low birth weight or small-for-gestational-age babies.
Wang said: "In environments where pregnant women do not get enough calories and protein, early intervention becomes essential, because improving maternal nutrition reduces the risk of complications during childbirth."
The researchers pointed out that maternal malnutrition not only increases the risks of childbirth, but also raises the likelihood of infant death, disease, and developmental delays.
The study also explained that previous interventions often focused on vitamins and minerals, while the new findings suggest that providing additional calories and protein may be more effective in supporting fetal growth.
The results showed that the benefits were most evident in children born earlier than the average gestational age, the group most at risk of complications, and the results were even better when women started taking supplements early in pregnancy, especially before the twentieth week.
Researcher Wang is currently conducting further studies in Ethiopia to assess the cost-effectiveness of different methods of delivering these supplements, with the aim of identifying the most suitable for widespread application across maternal health programs.
The study was prepared by an international team of researchers from several institutions, including the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and Aga Khan University, along with researchers from Europe, South Asia and Africa.
