/ en /news/2026-05/nutrition-support-during-pregnancy-improves-birth-outcomes-global-study-finds <span>Nutrition support during pregnancy improves birth outcomes, global study finds </span> <span><span>Heather Carroll</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-05-14T11:07:07-04:00" title="Thursday, May 14, 2026 - 11:07">Thu, 05/14/2026 - 11:07</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">91°µÍř-led research finds&nbsp;that&nbsp;food-based prenatal supplements improve birth weights across Africa and South Asia.</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/default/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2023-01/DQ%20Wang%20_500.jpg?itok=q3NY3f8M" width="350" height="350" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption><a href="https://gch.gmu.edu/profiles/dwang25">Dongqing&nbsp;Wang</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;the 91°µÍř College of Public Health&nbsp;</figcaption> </figure> <p>In parts of the world where daily nutrition is unstable, pregnancy&nbsp;and newborn health&nbsp;are&nbsp;more precarious.&nbsp;A new study led by epidemiologist&nbsp;<a href="https://gch.gmu.edu/profiles/dwang25">Dongqing&nbsp;Wang</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;the 91°µÍř College of Public Health&nbsp;adds&nbsp;to the evidence that improving maternal nutrition during pregnancy may be a key intervention&nbsp;to improve&nbsp;birth outcomes.</p> <p>Looking across&nbsp;eight&nbsp;clinical trials&nbsp;across&nbsp;Africa and South Asia, the study finds that balanced energy and protein (BEP) supplements—food-based products like beverages or nutrient-dense pastes designed to increase calorie and protein intake—are associated with healthier birth weights and fewer high-risk newborns in low- and middle-income countries.&nbsp;<a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1004716">The findings were published in&nbsp;<em>PLOS Medicine</em></a><em>.</em></p> <p>“In settings where pregnant women&nbsp;can’t&nbsp;access sufficient calories and protein, it is important to act early,” said Wang,&nbsp;an assistant professor of epidemiology in the&nbsp;<a href="https://gch.gmu.edu/">Department of Global and Community Health</a>. “Improving maternal nutrition can reduce the risk of vulnerable birth outcomes.”</p> <h4><strong>Why&nbsp;this matters</strong></h4> <p>Maternal malnutrition puts infants at higher risk of death, illness, and developmental delays.</p> <p>Interventions have often focused on micronutrient supplements, but this study shows that food-based approaches to increase calorie and protein intake may better support fetal growth.&nbsp;BEP supplements can also be delivered through existing maternal health programs, making them a practical solution to&nbsp;scale.&nbsp;Wang is also currently conducting further research in Ethiopia that examines the cost-effectiveness of different approaches to&nbsp;BEP supplementation.</p> <h4><strong>Study details</strong></h4> <p>Wang and his colleagues&nbsp;combined individual-level data from&nbsp;randomized controlled trials conducted in Nepal, The Gambia, Pakistan, and several other low- and middle-income settings. The team compared outcomes for pregnant individuals who received BEP supplements with those who did not.</p> <p>Key findings include:</p> <ul> <li>BEP supplements were associated with higher birth weights and a lower risk of babies being born with low birth weight or small for their gestational age.</li> <li>The effects were particularly notable for babies small for their gestational age, a group with elevated risk of neonatal mortality.</li> <li>Benefits appeared stronger among women who began supplementation earlier in pregnancy, particularly before 20 weeks.</li> </ul> <p>Wang worked with a&nbsp;global&nbsp;network of researchers from institutions including Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Aga Khan University and partners across Europe, South&nbsp;Asia,&nbsp;and Africa.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Photo by </em><a href="https://unsplash.com/@nathanareboucas?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText"><em>Nathana Rebouças</em></a><em> on </em><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/a-woman-in-a-striped-dress-poses-for-a-picture-xOIPx9C3hy4?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText"><em>Unsplash</em></a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/dwang25" hreflang="en">Dongqing Wang, PhD, MPH </a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="318b6dfd-4996-40ba-8d28-2def9654980c" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><div style="background-color:#FFEEC2;padding:5%;"> <h4><span>Key Takeaways</span></h4> <p><span>• A George Mason–led global study finds that balanced energy and protein (BEP) supplements can improve birth outcomes, especially in regions where maternal nutrition is limited.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>• The supplements are linked to higher birth weights and reduced risk of babies being born small or underweight, with the strongest benefits when started early in pregnancy.</span></p> <p><span>• These supplements boost calorie and protein intake and can be delivered through existing maternal health programs, making them a scalable solution.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/13981" hreflang="en">Prenatal Care</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6181" hreflang="en">Global Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10811" hreflang="en">Birth Outcomes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/13921" hreflang="en">Maternal Child Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/12196" hreflang="en">Maternal Nutrition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/19556" hreflang="en">GCH Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17791" hreflang="en">public health research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18511" hreflang="en">CPH research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17226" hreflang="en">College of Public Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5801" hreflang="en">In the George</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 14 May 2026 15:07:07 +0000 Heather Carroll 345872 at /news/2022-04/kansas-city-star-dean-germaine-buck-louis-comments-about-study-diabetes-drug-linked <span>Kansas City Star: Dean Germaine Buck Louis comments about a study on a diabetes drug linked to birth defects</span> <span><span>eander6</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-04-08T09:11:13-04:00" title="Friday, April 8, 2022 - 09:11">Fri, 04/08/2022 - 09:11</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/national/article259931975.html">Common diabetes drug may raise birth defect risk if dad used it recently, study finds.</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10576" hreflang="en">Diabetes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/13311" hreflang="en">Type II Diabetes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10811" hreflang="en">Birth Outcomes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/7986" hreflang="en">CHHS in the Media</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15321" hreflang="en">Dean</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Fri, 08 Apr 2022 13:11:13 +0000 eander6 68421 at /news/2022-04/miami-herald-dean-germaine-buck-louis-comments-about-study-diabetes-drug-linked-birth <span>Miami Herald: Dean Germaine Buck Louis comments about a study on a diabetes drug linked to birth defects</span> <span><span>eander6</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-04-08T09:09:06-04:00" title="Friday, April 8, 2022 - 09:09">Fri, 04/08/2022 - 09:09</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article259931975.html">Common diabetes drug may raise birth defect risk if dad used it recently, study finds.</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10811" hreflang="en">Birth Outcomes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10576" hreflang="en">Diabetes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/13311" hreflang="en">Type II Diabetes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/7986" hreflang="en">CHHS in the Media</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15321" hreflang="en">Dean</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Fri, 08 Apr 2022 13:09:06 +0000 eander6 68431 at /news/2022-03/healio-dean-germaine-buck-louis-comments-study-linking-diabetes-drug-birth-defects <span>Healio: Dean Germaine Buck Louis comments on a study linking a diabetes drug to birth defects</span> <span><span>eander6</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-03-31T15:40:03-04:00" title="Thursday, March 31, 2022 - 15:40">Thu, 03/31/2022 - 15:40</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><a href="https://www.healio.com/news/endocrinology/20220329/paternal-metformin-use-before-conception-increases-risk-for-birth-defects?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=Healio&amp;utm_campaign=College%20Weekly%20Update%20-%20March%2024%2C%202022">Paternal metformin use before conception increases risk for birth defects.</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10576" hreflang="en">Diabetes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10811" hreflang="en">Birth Outcomes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/7986" hreflang="en">CHHS in the Media</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 31 Mar 2022 19:40:03 +0000 eander6 67951 at /news/2022-03/wbal-tv-dean-germaine-buck-louis-comments-study-linking-diabetes-drug-birth-defects <span>WBAL TV: Dean Germaine Buck Louis comments on a study linking a diabetes drug to birth defects</span> <span><span>eander6</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-03-31T15:33:19-04:00" title="Thursday, March 31, 2022 - 15:33">Thu, 03/31/2022 - 15:33</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><a href="https://www.wbaltv.com/article/diabetes-drug-linked-increase-birth-defects/39576007">Men's use of diabetes drug before conception linked to 40% increase in birth defects, study finds.</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10576" hreflang="en">Diabetes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10811" hreflang="en">Birth Outcomes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/7986" hreflang="en">CHHS in the Media</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 31 Mar 2022 19:33:19 +0000 eander6 67946 at /news/2022-03/whdh-tv7-dean-germaine-buck-louis-comments-study-linking-diabetes-drug-birth-defects <span>WHDH-TV7: Dean Germaine Buck Louis comments on a study linking a diabetes drug to birth defects</span> <span><span>eander6</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-03-31T15:27:09-04:00" title="Thursday, March 31, 2022 - 15:27">Thu, 03/31/2022 - 15:27</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><a href="https://whdh.com/news/mens-use-of-diabetes-drug-just-before-conception-is-linked-to-a-40-increase-in-birth-defects-study-finds/?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=WHDH-TV7%C2%A0%28local%20NBC%20affiliate%20in%20Boston%2C%20MA%29&amp;utm_campaign=College%20Weekly%20Update%20-%20March%2024%2C%202022">Men’s use of diabetes drug just before conception is linked to a 40% increase in birth defects, study finds.</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10576" hreflang="en">Diabetes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10811" hreflang="en">Birth Outcomes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/7986" hreflang="en">CHHS in the Media</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 31 Mar 2022 19:27:09 +0000 eander6 67941 at /news/2022-03/cnn-dean-germaine-buck-louis-comments-study-linking-diabetes-drug-birth-defects <span>CNN: Dean Germaine Buck Louis comments on a study linking a diabetes drug to birth defects.</span> <span><span>eander6</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-03-31T15:10:45-04:00" title="Thursday, March 31, 2022 - 15:10">Thu, 03/31/2022 - 15:10</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/28/health/paternal-metformin-use-birth-defects/index.html?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=igCNN&amp;utm_content=2022-03-29T08:17:30&amp;utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=Germaine%20Buck%20Louis%20comments%20on%20a%20study%20linking%20a%20diabetes%20drug%20to%20birth%20defects&amp;utm_campaign=College%20Weekly%20Update%20-%20March%2024%2C%202022">Men's use of diabetes drug just before conception is linked to a 40% increase in birth defects, study finds.</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10576" hreflang="en">Diabetes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10811" hreflang="en">Birth Outcomes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/7986" hreflang="en">CHHS in the Media</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 31 Mar 2022 19:10:45 +0000 eander6 67936 at