This randomized controlled trial examined how small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNS) during pregnancy, postpartum and infancy affect child growth and blood pressure at 9 to 11 years in the International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (iLiNS)-DYAD-Ghana cohort.

One-thousand three-hundred twenty females (less than or equal to 20 weeks of pregnancy) were randomly allocated to receive every day:

• Iron and folic acid during gestation and placebo during 6 months postpartum or multiple micronutrients during pregnancy and 6 months postpartum
• SQ-LNS during pregnancy and 6-months after child birth and for their children aged in the age group of 6-18 months

Nine-hundred sixty-six children (aged 9-11 years) were re-enrolled. Parameters such as arm circumference, height-for-age z-score (HAZ), triceps skin-fold thickness, body mass index (BMI) for-age z-score, waist-to-height ratio, and blood pressure were noted. A comparison between the SQ-LNS and control groups (iron and folic acid + multiple micronutrients) was done while accounting for the child's age.

The average (standard deviation [SD]) HAZ in the SQ-LNS group was -0.04 (0.96) and was -0.16 (0.99) in the control group, with a p-value of 0.060. No considerable group differences were detected in other outcomes (p > 0.10). However, the effects of HAZ varied depending on the child's sex and pre-pregnancy BMI. As observed in women, HAZ was higher in the SQ-LNS group when compared to the control group; in males, it did not differ (Table 1):

Among children of females with a BMI of less than 25, HAZ was higher in the SQ-LNS compared to the control group; among females with a BMI of more than equal to 25, these parameters did not vary (Table 2):

The continued benefits of prenatal and postnatal SQ-LNS are apparent in the continued linear growth of girls and children born to mothers with normal weight. Greater body height in women could most likely reduce small-for-gestational-age childbirths and related complications.