Effect of micronutrient supplements on low-risk pregnancies in high-income countries: a systematic quantitative literature review. Issue 13 (9th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: James-McAlpine, Janelle M; Vincze, Lisa; Vanderlelie, Jessica J; Perkins, Anthony V
• Is Part Of: Public health nutrition. Volume 23:Issue 13(2020)
• Page Start: 2434
• Page End: 2444
• Publication Date: 2020-09-09
• Subjects: Birth outcomes, -- High income, -- Pregnancy, -- Micronutrients, -- Supplements; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutrition policy -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980020000725
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-9800

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To assess the quantity and focus of recent empirical research regarding the effect of micronutrient supplementation on live birth outcomes in low-risk pregnancies from high-income countries. Design: A systematic quantitative literature review. Setting: Low-risk pregnancies in World Bank-classified high-income countries, 2019. Results: Using carefully selected search criteria, a total of 2475 publications were identified, of which seventeen papers met the inclusion criteria for this review. Data contributing to nine of the studies were sourced from four cohorts; research originated from ten countries. These cohorts exhibited a large number of participants, stable data and a low probability of bias. The most recent empirical data offered by these studies was 2011; the most historical was 1980. In total, fifty-five categorical outcome/supplement combinations were examined; 67·3 % reported no evidence of micronutrient supplementation influencing selected outcomes. Conclusions: A coordinated, cohesive and uniform empirical approach to future studies is required to determine what constitutes appropriate, effective and safe micronutrient supplementation in contemporary cohorts from high-income countries, and how this might influence pregnancy outcomes.