Multiple Maternal Micronutrient Supplements Reduce Infant Mortality

MedWire News: Pregnant women are more likely to reduce the risk for infant mortality and fetal loss if they take multiple micronutrient (MMN) supplements rather than just iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements, Indonesian researchers report.

The researchers assessed 90-day postpartum neonatal mortality rates among 15,486 Indonesian women randomly assigned to receive daily IFA (30 mg iron and 400 micrograms folic acid) and 15,804 randomly assigned to receive MMN. The MMN regimen consisted of iron, folic acid, vitamins A, C, D, E, B1, B2, B6, B12, niacin, zinc, copper, selenium, and iodine.

Among mothers taking MMN supplements, the risk for neonatal death was reduced by 18 percent and the combined rate of fetal loss and early infant mortality by 11 percent, compared with among mothers taking IFA.

The benefits of MMN supplementation were particularly apparent for undernourished and anemic women, for whom early infant mortality was reduced by 25 and 38 percent, respectively, and combined fetal loss and early infant mortality by 15 and 29 percent, respectively, compared with IFA supplementation.

"Maternal MMN supplementation, as compared with IFA, can reduce early infant mortality, especially in undernourished and anemic women. Maternal MMN supplementation might therefore be an important part of overall strengthening of prenatal-care programs," conclude Anuraj Shankar (University of Mataram, Nusa Tengarra Barat, Indonesia) and team.