Vitamin Angels backs US bill on global maternal and child micronutrient supplementation

A US representative recently introduced the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Act, which may provide micronutrient supplements (MMS) and US$150 million a year to be invested in global maternal and child nutrition programs. 

The act would direct US global health assistance toward low-cost interventions reducing child and maternal deaths that are, for the majority, preventable.

Nutrition Insight speaks with Colleen Delaney, Ph.D., registered dietitian nutritionist, and technical advisor of US programs at Vitamin Angels, about the proposed act and the impact micronutrient supplementation could have on maternal and child health if readily accessible. 

“The Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Act recognizes something we have known for a long time: maternal nutrition is foundational to maternal and child health. During pregnancy, women have increased nutritional demands to support their own health and the growth and development of their babies, yet many still face barriers to accessing quality maternity care and essential nutrition services.”

She says that globally, more than one billion adolescent girls and women experience undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, or anemia, which can increase the risk of serious complications during pregnancy and childbirth and affect the health and development of their children.

Investing in nutrition

Investing in maternal nutrition is one of the most effective ways to improve the health of mothers and babies, argues Delaney. She says the legislation represents an important opportunity to strengthen maternal nutrition programs and help ensure more women receive the nutrition and care they need throughout pregnancy.

Global health funding has become increasingly constrained as governments and donors respond to competing priorities around the world, stresses Delaney.“The act would direct US global health assistance toward proven maternal and child health interventions, including multiple micronutrient supplementation, or MMS, in select partner countries. MMS provides pregnant women with iron, folic acid, and other essential vitamins and minerals that support healthy pregnancies and healthier birth outcomes.”

Vitamin Angels partners with manufacturers to procure MMS that follows the UN’s International Multiple Micronutrient Antenatal Preparation formulation, the internationally recognized “gold” standard for prenatal multivitamins that has been rigorously studied and shown to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.

Global health funding has become increasingly constrained as governments and donors respond to competing priorities around the world, stresses Delaney. “Unfortunately, maternal and child nutrition needs have not declined alongside those funding challenges.”

“Every day, more than 700 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, and nearly all of those deaths occur in low- and lower-middle-income countries.”

“When funding declines, it becomes more difficult for countries to provide proven nutrition interventions, strengthen health care systems, and reach women with quality antenatal care.”

She explains that these investments benefit multiple areas, including training and supporting health care workers and strengthening supply chains, ensuring women have consistent access to prenatal nutrition throughout pregnancy, and integrating maternal nutrition into routine antenatal care.

“Maternal nutrition is one of the smartest investments we can make in global health,” Delaney argues. “The World Bank estimates that scaling evidence-based nutrition interventions could avert 6.2 million deaths among children under five and nearly one million stillbirths between 2025 and 2034.” 

She adds that continued investment helps countries build stronger, more resilient health systems that can sustainably deliver these interventions and improve outcomes for mothers and babies for generations to come.

Fatal outcomes

Delaney explains that the leading causes of maternal deaths globally include postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, infections, and complications during childbirth. 

“Nearly 92% of maternal deaths worldwide occur in low- and lower-middle-income countries, and the vast majority are considered preventable with timely, evidence-based care. While nutrition alone cannot prevent every maternal death, it plays an important role in reducing many of the underlying risk factors that contribute to these complications,” she argues. 

Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, which increases a woman’s risk of severe complications from postpartum hemorrhage.For example, iron deficiency can lead to anemia, which increases a woman’s risk of severe complications from postpartum hemorrhage. 

“Globally, an estimated 37% of pregnant women are affected by anemia, making it one of the most common nutritional challenges during pregnancy. Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies during pregnancy because it can lead to anemia, which increases the risk of serious maternal complications. But iron is only one piece of the picture.”

“Other nutrients, including calcium and folate, also play important roles in supporting healthy pregnancies and reducing the risk of poor birth outcomes,” Delaney adds. 

Pregnant women often have increased needs for several essential vitamins and minerals, including folate, iodine, calcium, zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin B12. 

“Many women, particularly in low-resource settings, begin pregnancy already deficient in one or more of these nutrients,” says Delaney. “That’s why multiple micronutrient supplementation is so important. Rather than focusing on a single nutrient, MMS provides a broader range of vitamins and minerals that help meet the increased nutritional demands of pregnancy and support healthier outcomes for both mothers and babies.”

SmartyPants Vitamins previously told Nutrition Insight that pregnant women are experiencing deficiencies in crucial prenatal nutrients, including choline, folate, and the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. In the US, 90% of women are deficient in choline, a crucial nutrient for a baby’s development and pregnancy health.

“Ensuring women have access to evidence-based nutrition interventions like multiple micronutrient supplementation as part of routine antenatal care can help improve maternal nutrition and support healthier pregnancies,” says Delaney.

Tackling undernutrition

The proposed US funding has the potential to expand access to multiple micronutrient supplements while helping countries strengthen the systems needed to deliver these interventions effectively, explains Delaney.

Delaney observes that sustainable progress comes from pairing evidence-based interventions with strong local partnerships and health systems.“Countries with the highest rates of maternal undernutrition, anemia, and preventable maternal and newborn deaths, particularly across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, have the greatest opportunity to benefit from these investments. At the same time, every country has unique needs, so it’s important that these programs are implemented in partnership with governments and local organizations that understand their communities.”

“For example, in many countries where we work, we partner with local organizations to invest in health care worker training and promote community education. In countries like Kenya, these efforts help women and their families understand the importance of consistent prenatal nutrition and support adherence to MMS throughout pregnancy.”

Delaney observes that sustainable progress comes from pairing evidence-based interventions with strong local partnerships and health systems.

“One of the encouraging things about maternal nutrition is that we already have evidence-based and cost-effective interventions that work. We know that improving women’s nutrition before and during pregnancy supports healthier pregnancies, healthier births, and healthier futures for children.”

“The opportunity now is to ensure these interventions reach every woman who needs them,” she concludes. “That will require continued investment, strong partnerships with governments and local organizations, and a sustained commitment to making maternal nutrition a routine part of quality antenatal care.”