Study: NCT01665378

Intervention type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
Group type: EXPERIMENTAL
Intervention: Multiple Micronutrient
Description: There is no current recommendation for weekly MM supplements for WRA. Therefore, we propose a supplement that contains: The same amounts of iron and folic acid as the weekly, pre-natal IFA supplement; An amount of vitamin D based on the Food and Nutrition Board's Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA); UNICEF/WHO/UNU recommended amounts of remaining nutrients (UNIMMAP recommendations). The supplement is taken weekly during pre-pregnancy.~Vitamin A (μg) 800 Vitamin D (IU) 600 Vitamin E (mg) 10 Vitamin C (mg) 70 Thiamine (mg) 1.4 Riboflavin (mg) 1.4 Niacin (mg) 18 Vitamin B6 (mg) 1.9 Vitamin B12 (μg) 2.6 Folic acid (μg)\* 2800 Iron (mg)\* 60 Zinc (mg) 15 Copper (mg) 2 Selenium (μg) 65 Iodine (μg) 150

Intervention type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
Group type: EXPERIMENTAL
Intervention: Multiple Micronutrient
Description: There is no current recommendation for weekly MM supplements for WRA. Therefore, we propose a supplement that contains: The same amounts of iron and folic acid as the weekly, pre-natal IFA supplement; An amount of vitamin D based on the Food and Nutrition Board's Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA); UNICEF/WHO/UNU recommended amounts of remaining nutrients (UNIMMAP recommendations). The supplement is taken weekly during pre-pregnancy.~Vitamin A (μg) 800 Vitamin D (IU) 600 Vitamin E (mg) 10 Vitamin C (mg) 70 Thiamine (mg) 1.4 Riboflavin (mg) 1.4 Niacin (mg) 18 Vitamin B6 (mg) 1.9 Vitamin B12 (μg) 2.6 Folic acid (μg)\* 2800 Iron (mg)\* 60 Zinc (mg) 15 Copper (mg) 2 Selenium (μg) 65 Iodine (μg) 150

Intervention type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
Group type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
Intervention: Iron and Folic Acid
Description: The doses of weekly and daily iron (60mg) and folic acid (2800μg) are based on current WHO recommendations for WRA.

Intervention type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
Group type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
Intervention: Iron and Folic Acid
Description: The doses of weekly and daily iron (60mg) and folic acid (2800μg) are based on current WHO recommendations for WRA.

Intervention type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
Group type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR
Intervention: Folic Acid
Description: It is unethical to have a placebo group as FA is universally recommended for WRA to prevent neural tube defects. Therefore, the control group will receive 2800 μg FA once a week during the pre-pregnancy period. This dosage is safe and meets the minimum recommended intake of 400 μg/d for Women of Reproductive Age (WRA). Recent studies have shown that a weekly dose of 2800 μg FA is as effective as a daily dose of 400 μg in improving folic acid and reducing homocysteine levels among WRA.

Intervention type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
Group type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR
Intervention: Folic Acid
Description: It is unethical to have a placebo group as FA is universally recommended for WRA to prevent neural tube defects. Therefore, the control group will receive 2800 μg FA once a week during the pre-pregnancy period. This dosage is safe and meets the minimum recommended intake of 400 μg/d for Women of Reproductive Age (WRA). Recent studies have shown that a weekly dose of 2800 μg FA is as effective as a daily dose of 400 μg in improving folic acid and reducing homocysteine levels among WRA.