Energy supplements for gestational weight gain in low-and-middle-income countries Original paper
In this meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials conducted in low-and-middle-income countries, energy supplements generally reduced the risks of inadequate gestational weight gain in 12,549 pregnant women.
This Study Summary was published on March 26, 2025.
The study
The daily energy content of the energy supplements (with less than 25% of the energy from protein) ranged from 250 kcal to 970 kcal. Most of the interventions began at 8 to 25 weeks gestation.
At delivery, energy supplements increased gestational weight gain by 0.6 kg (1.3 lbs) and reduced the risk of inadequate gestational weight gain by 7% and severely inadequate gestational weight gain by 10%. At the second trimester, energy supplements increased the risk of excessive gestational weight gain by 18%.
Ten studies had a low risk of bias, and 1 had a high risk of bias. However, heterogeneity was generally high.
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The results
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This Study Summary was published on March 26, 2025.