Peer-reviewed article
Impact of nutrient supplementation on maternal nutrition and child growth and development in Sub‐Saharan Africa: the case of small‐quantity lipid‐based nutrient supplements
Seth Adu‐Afarwuah ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5This review looks at studies from six African countries testing small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) given to pregnant women and young children. These supplements provide extra vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and protein. The review found that SQ-LNS improved child growth in some countries but not in Malawi, and improved motor skills in several countries but not other areas of child development like language or emotional skills. The authors conclude the supplements show promise for growth but more research is needed, especially on the right amount of iron to include.
Key points
- SQ-LNS reduced low gestational weight gain in Ghana compared to multiple micronutrient supplements
- SQ-LNS was linked to poorer iron/hemoglobin status compared to iron-plus-folic acid supplementation
- SQ-LNS improved child growth in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa but not in two Malawi trials
- SQ-LNS improved motor development in five countries but had no effect on language, socio-emotional or executive function outcomes in Ghana and Malawi
- More research is needed on the right iron level in SQ-LNS to improve both maternal and child outcomes
Limitations
This is a narrative review, not a systematic review or meta-analysis, so it does not statistically combine results, and results vary by country and trial design.
Abstract
AbstractMicronutrient deficiencies remain common among women and children in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA); in pregnant/lactating women, the intakes of essential fatty acids may also be low. Enriching home‐prepared foods with small‐quantity lipid‐based nutrient supplements (SQ‐LNSs) is a promising new strategy of delivering additional micronutrients, essential fatty acids and good quality protein to women and children. This narrative review aimed to examine the impact of SQ‐LNSs supplementation among women and infants and young children in SSA, and to discuss the differential impact of SQ‐LNS consumption across different settings.Papers reporting randomized trials conducted in SSA in which apparently healthy women and/or ≥6‐mo‐old children received SQ‐LNSs were identified through electronic and manual searches.Prenatal SQ‐LNS consumption reduced the prevalence of low gestational weight gain in Ghana when compared with multiple micronutrients supplementation, and was associated with poorer iron/hemoglobin status when compared with iron‐plus‐folic acid supplementation. SQ‐LNSs received alone or as intervention package improved infant/child growth in two trials in Ghana and one trial each in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa, but had no impact on growth in two trials in Malawi. SQ‐LNSs supplementation improved motor development in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Kenya, and South Africa, but had no impact on language, socio‐emotional, and executive functions in Ghana and Malawi and on Griffiths’ developmental scores in Malawi.SQ‐LNSs may contribute to improving child growth in SSA. More research is needed to determine the iron level in SQ‐LNSs effective for improving both maternal hemoglobin/iron status and birth outcomes.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) given to women and/or children to provide extra micronutrients, essential fatty acids and protein
- Population
- Pregnant/lactating women and children aged 6 months and older in six Sub-Saharan African countries
Key finding
Improved child growth in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa but not in two Malawi trials
Adu‐Afarwuah · Crossref · 1 Dec 2020