Outcomes
YearNumber of RCTs included (patients)Control interventionLow birth weight (95% CI)Small for gestational age (95% CI)Comments
2009A1 13 (61,705)Placebo, or iron and folateRR = 0.81 (0.73 to 0.91) vs. placeboNo difference
RR = 0.83 (0.74 to 0.93) vs. iron and folate
2009A2 12 (27,676)Iron and folateRR = 0.89 (0.83 to 0.97)*RR = 0.91 (0.84 to 0.99)*Increased rates of small-for-gestational-age births
2011A3 14 (67,213)Iron and folateNRRR = 0.91 (0.86 to 0.96)Increased neonatal mortality in areas with more than 60% home births
2012A4 21 (75,785)Iron and folateRR = 0.89 (0.83 to 0.94)RR = 0.87 (0.81 to 0.95)Decreased neonatal mortality if started after 20 weeks' gestation
2012A5 16 (61,972)Less than three micronutrients (usually iron and folate)RR = 0.86 (0.81 to 0.91)RR = 0.83 (0.73 to 0.95)Increased neonatal mortality if started after first trimester