Can a simple supplement boost birth weight? new study hopes so
NCT ID NCT05576207
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 02, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether giving pregnant women a balanced energy and protein supplement (BEP) can improve birth weight and reduce complications like low birth weight and preterm birth. Over 3,300 women in Bangladesh were randomly assigned to receive either BEP or standard prenatal vitamins. The goal is to see if targeted nutrition can lead to healthier babies.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Balanced energy and protein (BEP) supplement
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could help reduce low birth weight and other pregnancy complications in undernourished populations.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed trial, but results may not apply to other regions or populations. The supplement is not a cure and only addresses nutritional deficiencies.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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3,390 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2022
- Finished
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May 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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15 to 35 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Married women of reproductive age (15-35 y) * living in the selected study area who are pregnant and consent to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Currently pregnant or lactating women (through 12 months postpartum), * Married women who are sterilized or widowed/divorced will not be included in the pregnancy surveillance being used to identify newly pregnant women. * Women with gestational age of \>=28 weeks of gestation using reported last menstrual period.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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JiVitA Project
Rangpur City, Bangladesh
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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