Prenatal and postnatal lipid-based nutrient supplementation and cognitive, social-emotional, and motor function in preschool-aged children in Ghana: a follow-up of a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Adequate nutrition is necessary for brain development during pregnancy and infancy. Few randomized controlled trials of supplementation during these periods have measured later developmental outcomes.

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the effects of provision of prenatal and postnatal lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) on child development at preschool age.

Methods: We conducted a follow-up study of 966 children aged 4-6 y in 2016, born to women who participated in the International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements-DYAD trial conducted in Ghana in 2009-2014, representing 79% of eligible children. Women ≤20 weeks of gestation were randomized to daily LNS or multiple micronutrient (MMN) capsules during pregnancy through 6 mo postpartum or iron and folic acid (IFA) capsules during pregnancy and calcium placebo capsules during 6 mo postpartum. Children in the LNS group received LNS from 6 to 18 mo. Primary outcomes of this follow-up study were (1) a cognitive factor score based on a test battery adapted from several standard tests, 2) fine motor score (9-hole pegboard test), and (3) social-emotional difficulties (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; SDQ). Eight secondary outcomes were calculated in specific domains (e.g., language, SDQ prosocial). Analysis was by a complete case intention to treat in a 2-group comparison: LNS compared with non-LNS (MMN + IFA).

Results: Children in the LNS group had significantly lower social-emotional difficulties z-scores than children in the non-LNS group (adjusted for child age β = -0.12, 95% CI: -0.25, 0.02, P = 0.087; fully adjusted β = -0.16, 95% CI: -0.29, -0.03, P = 0.013). The effect of LNS on social-emotional difficulties score was larger among children living in households with lower home environment scores (P-interaction = 0.081). No other outcomes differed between the 2 intervention groups.

Conclusions: Provision of LNS during the first 1000 d of development improved behavioral function, particularly for children from low nurturing and stimulation households, but did not affect cognition at preschool age in this setting. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov, Identifier NCT00970866.

FIGURE 1

Study profile showing infants whose mothers were enrolled into the trial, and the reasons some infants were lost to follow-up. IFA, iron and folic acid; LNS, lipid-based nutrient supplement; LNS group, women received 20 g LNS daily during pregnancy and 6 mo postpartum; infants received 20 g LNS daily from 6 to 18 mo of age; MMN, multiple micronutrients; Non-LNS group, women received either IFA during pregnancy and placebo for 6 mo postpartum or MMN capsules during pregnancy and 6 mo postpartum. Infants did not receive any supplement. Groups shown are based on supplements women received at enrollment.

FIGURE 2

Mean social-emotional difficulties score by intervention group and HOME score. Error bars show the standard error of the mean. High HOME, HOME score above the sample median; HOME, Home Observation for the Measurement of the Environment Inventory; LNS, lipid-based nutrient supplement for mothers and children; Low HOME, HOME score below the sample median; Non-LNS, iron and folic acid or multiple micronutrient capsules for mothers only (control group). P for interaction between HOME score (categorized by the median population score as low HOME or high HOME score) and intervention group = 0.081.