27 May 2025 – A major new study has found that pregnant women who take multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) are more likely to have healthier babies who grow better in their first months of life. The findings, published this month in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, highlight the potential of MMS to improve birth outcomes and reduce early undernutrition, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The global study, led by the MMS Technical Advisory Group, hosted by HMHB, reviewed 19 high-quality clinical trials involving more than 20,000 women and their babies. It compared outcomes in pregnancies where mothers took MMS with those where mothers received the standard iron and folic acid (IFA) supplements.
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The results showed that babies whose mothers took MMS were:
Importantly, MMS also reduced the risk of undernutrition. Babies in the MMS group were significantly less likely to be:
“Prenatal MMS offer a safe, effective, and affordable way to help babies get a healthier start at birth and through the first 6 months of life, influencing what happens in the crucial first 1,000 days“, said Dr. Parul Christian, Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a co-author. “These results clearly show the growth benefits of prenatal MMS go beyond the known effects at birth, and extend to 3 or even 6 months of age. Importantly, this window supports previous reports of prenatal MMS on improved child cognition in early and late childhood, ” added Dr. Anuraj Shankar, Senior Scientist at Oxford University, another co-author.
Alongside the health benefits, MMS is also highly cost-effective. For every $1 invested in providing MMS during pregnancy, researchers estimate a return of $37 through improved health outcomes and reduced long-term healthcare costs. The findings come at a critical time for maternal and child health policy. Many countries still rely on IFA supplements during pregnancy, even though MMS can address a broader range of nutritional needs. Experts say this new evidence strengthens the case for scaling up MMS in national health systems. MMS can help bridge the gap in early childhood nutrition and development—especially in areas where food insecurity and maternal malnutrition are common. By addressing multiple nutrient deficiencies at once, MMS offers a practical solution for improving maternal and infant health outcomes worldwide.
