Efficacy of Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (LNS) for Pregnant and Lactating Women and Their Infants

In Ghana, low micronutrient intakes among pregnant women are a major problem. The standard nutritional intervention during pregnancy is iron-folic acid tablets, but adherence is low. The investigators have pioneered the use of multiple micronutrient-fortified semi-solid pastes called Lipid-based Nutrient Supplements (LNS) (made using vegetable oil, groundnut, milk, sugar, and micronutrients), and the investigators' previous studies show that the approach could have great potential for use by pregnant and lactating women. This study aims to evaluate the effects of LNS-P\&L designed for pregnant and lactating women and LNS-20gM designed for infants. Pregnant women (n=864) randomly selected from ante-natal clinics in Yilo and Manya Krobo districts of Ghana will be randomized to receive daily (a) Group 1: Iron/ Folic Acid tablets during pregnancy, and a tablet containing calcium (Ca) only (akin to a placebo) during lactation (6 mo), (b) Group 2: Multiple Micronutrient tablets during pregnancy and the first six months of lactation, or (c) Group 3: LNS-P\&L during pregnancy and lactation, whilst their infants receive LNS-20gM daily from 6 to 18 months. There are two primary outcomes namely: 1. Maternal primary outcome: Birth length 2. Child primary outcome: Child length-for-age z-score at 18 mo. The investigators hypothesize that a) mean birth length and length-for-age at 18 mo will be greater in children whose mothers are in Group 2 than those whose mothers are in Group 1, and b) children whose mothers are in Group 3 will have greater birth length and length-for-age at 18 mo than the children in either of the other two groups.