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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

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 58, pages 52–59 (2004)Cite this article

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 14±2 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, B2, B6 and β-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 (<2700g) 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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LBSO, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Joseph. Fourier, La Tronche, France

    I Hininger, J Arnaud, H Faure, A Favier & A M Roussel

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHU, Grenoble, France

    M Favier

  3. Department of Obstetrics, Hopital E. Herriot, Lyon, France

    J M Thoulon

  4. Boiron Pharmaceuticals, Ste Foy les Lyon, France

    E Hariveau

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  1. I Hininger
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  2. M Favier
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Correspondence to A M Roussel.

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Hininger, I., Favier, M., Arnaud, J. et al. 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. Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 52–59 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601745

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601745

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