A recent study involving 500 mothers has indicated that the use of an enriched nutritional supplement before and during pregnancy may significantly reduce the risk of childhood obesity. The research, part of the international NiPPeR study, involved scientists from the University of Southampton, the University of Auckland’s Liggins Institute, the National University of Singapore, and the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore.
The study investigated the impact of an enriched nutritional supplement, including vitamins B2, B6, B12, D, along with probiotics and myoinositol, on a child’s weight in the initial years of life. The findings revealed that children born to mothers who took the supplement before birth were half as likely to be obese by the age of 2.
Professor Keith Godfrey, Chief Investigator from the University of Southampton and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Center, emphasized the rising rates of childhood obesity, particularly in less advantaged groups. He stated, “Preventing obesity is one of the most important things we can do, as treating obesity is much more difficult. These findings suggest the period before and during pregnancy may provide a special opportunity—a time when supporting better nutritional status for mothers could have lasting benefits for her child.”
The study, published in BMC Medicine, randomly assigned 500 women to two groups—one receiving the enriched supplement and the other a standard pregnancy supplement alone. At age 2, the children of mothers in the enriched group showed half the rate of obesity compared to the standard group—9% versus 18%. Additionally, these children were almost 25% less likely to experience rapid weight gain after birth.
Professor Wayne Cutfield, leader of the research from the Liggins Institute in Auckland, highlighted the potential long-term impact of supplementing mothers before and during pregnancy. He said, “Our data suggests supplementing moms before and during pregnancy can have benefits way beyond the pregnancy and for the women involved. It can impact their baby into childhood and potentially beyond.”
The NiPPeR team plans to continue monitoring the children between 6 and 8 years of age to further understand the sustained effects of nutritional interventions during pregnancy. Associate Professor Shiao Yng Chan from the National University of Singapore emphasized the concept of fetal programming, indicating that early events in the womb can influence how a child reacts to an unhealthy lifestyle later in life, making some children more prone to becoming overweight.
