A Massey University study has found a link between mothers taking multivitamins and improved birthweight for babies. Four hundred women in the early stages of pregnancy, all from a lower socio-economic area of London took part in a clinical trial led by Dr Louise Brough from Massey’s Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health. The trial, the first of its kind, was published online in the British Journal of Nutrition 23 April 2010. The results showed that a multiple micronutrient supplement taken during pregnancy improves the health of the mother as well as likely reducing the risk of underweight babies. They also highlighted a worrying occurrence of nutritional deficiency (in particular iron) in the mothers being studied. “A baby’s health can be adversely affected if it is too small at birth, both in early and later life,” says Dr Brough. Early pregnancy is a critical time for foetal development, she says, so it is very important to have good nutrient levels. “This research highlights the concerning fact that a number of women, even in the developed world, are lacking in important nutrients during pregnancy. Of course, a good diet during pregnancy is important for a healthy pregnancy, but for those who do not have a good diet, multivitamin and mineral supplements will help to reduce the risk of deficiency.”