Effects of a combined micronutrient supplementation on maternal biological status and newborn anthropometrics measurements: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in apparently healthy pregnant women

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the possible beneficial effects of a micronutrient supplementation to apparently healthy pregnant women on maternal biological status and new born anthropometric characteristics. Setting: Departments of Obstetric of the University Hospital of Grenoble (France) and Lyon (France), Laboratoire of Biology of Oxidative Stress, UFR de Pharmacie. Grenoble (France). Study design: Double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled intervention trial. Subjects: A total of 100 apparently healthy pregnant women were recruited at 1472 weeks of gestation to delivery. At the end, they were 65 women to follow out the study. Interventions: Daily consumption over gestation of a miconutrients supplement or placebo. Main outcome measures: Plasma micronutrient levels and oxidative stress parameters were measured in mothers at 14 and 38 weeks of gestation. New born's anthropometric characteristics were measured at delivery. Results: In the supplemented group, folic acid, vitamin C, E, B 2 , B 6 and b-carotene levels were higher than in the placebo group. Oxidative stress parameters were not different between the groups. Birth weights were increased by 10% and the number of low newborn weights (o2700g) decreased significantly when the mother received the supplementation. Maternal plasma Zn levels were positively correlated to the newborn heights. Conclusion: A regular intake of a micronutrient supplement at nutritional dose may be sufficient to improve micronutrient status of apparently healthy pregnant women and could prevent low birth weight of newborn. Sponsorship: The supplement and placebo were supplied and the study was partially funded by BOIRON Pharmaceutical Company.

Effects of prenatal multimicronutrient supplementation on pregnancy outcomes: a meta-analysis

“…5,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] We excluded 14 reports (the reasons for exclusion are given in Appendix 4, available at www.cmaj .ca/cgi/content/full/cmaj.081777/DC3).…”

Association of antioxidant vitamins and oxidative stress levels in pregnancy with infant growth during the first year of life

“…The foetus is totally dependent on the mother for the supply of nutrients essential to maintain its life. An optimal maternal nutritional status has been shown to reduce the risks of a preterm birth and low birth weight (1)(2)(3) , improve postnatal growth (4,5) , and reduce both maternal and infant morbidity and mortality (6)(7)(8)(9) . Despite a trend of improved infant growth in most countries due to enhanced intakes of macronutrients (10) , a low maternal nutritional status during the critical stage of foetal development subsequently contributes to growth retardation in the offspring and adverse health outcomes in later life (11) .…”

Umbilical cord blood plasma vitamin A levels in low birth weight (LBW) babies

“…Encouraging results have emerged with improved outcome among babies and mothers who were supplemented with vitamin A or other micronutrient combinations. [22][23][24][25][26][27] Simple interventions like vitamin A supplementation during a crucial stage of an infant's life may be beneficial in the long run. Hence, there is a need to seriously examine the role of vitamin A supplementation for LBW babies during the immediate postnatal period.…”