Lipid-based nutrient supplements reduce all-cause mortality among children 6-24 months old

Objectives:
Undernutrition is associated with an elevated risk of mortality among children in low- and middle-income countries. Small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) have been evaluated as a method to prevent undernutrition and improve infant development, but the effects on mortality are unknown. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.

Do lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) reduce all-cause mortality among children 6-24 months old?

Study design:
This review article included 18 RCTs conducted in 11 countries that enrolled 41,280 children and reported 586 deaths.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found in 13 RCTs compared to non-lipid-based nutrient supplements groups, that children in the lipid-based nutrient supplements groups had a significantly reduced risk of 27% [RR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.59 to 0.89] for all-cause mortality among children 6-24 months old.
However, estimates were similar when trials with maternal lipid-based nutrient supplements intervention arms were added or when alternative formulations of lipid-based nutrient supplements were excluded.

The investigators found the results appeared stronger in trials in which lipid-based nutrient supplements were compared with passive control arms.
Excluding these contrasts and only comparing multicomponent arms with lipid-based nutrient supplements groups and comparison groups that contained all the same components without lipid-based nutrient supplements attenuated the effect estimate [RR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.61 to 1.10]. 

The investigators concluded lipid-based nutrient supplements reduce all-cause mortality among children 6-24 months old. But more trials with appropriate comparison groups allowing isolation of the effect of lipid-based nutrient supplements alone are needed.

Original title:
Lipid-based nutrient supplements and all-cause mortality in children 6-24 months of age: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by Stewart CP, Wessells KR, […], Dewey KG.

Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31697329

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