Introduction
malnutrition
MALNUTRITION
According to the 2021 global burden of malnutrition estimates, 149.2 million (22%) children under the age of 5 suffer from stunted growth and may never develop to their full potential [WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first 6 months of life [The evidence on the effect of providing pregnant and lactating women with lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) on child growth is inconsistent to date. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in Malawi [BEP supplements are a similar type of ready-to-use supplements that provide multiple micronutrients and, specifically, energy and protein in a balanced composition (<25% of total kcal content from protein) to address maternal malnutrition during pregnancy and lactation. We previously reported on the modest efficacy of prenatal BEP supplementation on weight and length increments at birth and the lower prevalence of low birth weight in the MIcronutriments pour la SAnté de la Mere et de l’Enfant-III (MISAME-III) trial [