Maternal micronutrient deficiencies can adversely affect fetal and infant health, but there is insufficient evidence to guide the use of multiple micronutrient supplements. The JiVitA-3 randomized trial in rural Bangladesh aimed to assess the effects of antenatal multiple micronutrient vs. iron-folic acid supplementation on 6-month infant mortality and adverse birth outcomes. The study found that multiple micronutrient compared with iron-folic acid supplementation did not reduce all-cause infant mortality but did result in a non-statistically significant reduction in stillbirths and statistically significant reductions in preterm births and low birth weight.
JAMA. 2014