Nutr Rev. 2025 Jul 28:nuaf112. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuaf112. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Malaria and malnutrition adversely affect maternal and neonatal health in Sub-Saharan Africa. While intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) is widely used to reduce malaria incidence, the potential additional benefits of combining it with lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) remain unclear. The objective of this review was to systematically summarize the evidence on the effects of LNS in combination with IPTp on malaria incidence, maternal nutritional status, and birth outcomes. A comprehensive search of 4 databases-MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and CENTRAL-and the gray literature via GOOGLE Scholar-was conducted in January 2024, and updated in July 2024. The review followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines and included studies assessing LNS and IPTp for outcomes related to malaria, nutritional status, or birth outcomes. The review identified 17 studies, focused on 5 main trials: 2 with small-quantity LNS (SQ-LNS), 2 with balanced energy-protein (BEP), and 1 trial with large-quantity LNS (LQ-LNS). LNS supplementation did not significantly affect malaria incidence, anemia, or nutritional status. However, some studies reported improvements in birth outcomes, particularly among specific subgroups and those with baseline undernutrition. Variability in study methodologies and supplementation protocols influenced these findings. While LNS and IPTp show potential for improving selected birth outcomes, the evidence for their effect on malaria incidence or maternal anemia remains inconclusive. Further research is needed to assess the effectiveness of LNS and IPTp among vulnerable groups of women in malaria-endemic regions.
PMID:40720671 | DOI:10.1093/nutrit/nuaf112
