Health
Why pregnant women should take MMS daily — Experts
Maternal health and nutrition experts have said that taking Multiple Micronutrient Supplements daily during pregnancy can reduce the risk of congenital birth defects linked to nutritional deficiencies in babies.
They noted that adequate intake of nutrients such as folic acid, iron, iodine, and 12 other essential micronutrients contained in MMS before and during pregnancy can help prevent neural tube defects, while also reducing the risk of maternal anaemia and low birth weight.
The experts stressed that improving maternal nutrition through evidence-based interventions such as MMS is critical to ensuring healthier pregnancies and better outcomes for both mothers and their babies.
Malnutrition during pregnancy is one of the leading causes of poor maternal and neonatal outcomes in Nigeria.
MMS was adopted based on the 2020 World Health Organisation recommendation on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience.
The MMS tablet is packed with critical micronutrients and contains 13 to 15 vitamins and minerals.
MMS bottle.
Photo: Sodiq Ojuroungbe
Pregnant women are expected to take the tablet once daily for 180 days during the pregnancy.
According to the WHO, MMS is essential for normal physiological function, growth, and development.
Also, evidence from the WHO trials showed that MMS, specifically the UNIMMAP formulation, reduces low birthweight, small‑for‑gestational‑age, preterm birth, and stillbirth more effectively.
In 2021, the Federal Ministry of Health approved the transition from Iron and Folic Acid supplements to MMS for pregnant women in the country.
Nigeria has an alarming maternal mortality rate of 512 per 100,000 live births, according to the NDHS 2018, and a high proportion of babies born with low birth weight or prematurely.
The National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey in 2024 revealed that many pregnant women in Nigeria suffer from deficiencies in iron, zinc, Vitamin A, folate, and other essential nutrients.
Speaking with PUNCH Healthwise on the importance of MMS in pregnancy, the Second Vice President of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria, Prof Christopher Aimakhu, said MMS is now highly recommended for pregnant women because they benefit both the mother and the baby.
He explained that MMS is now preferred to iron and folic acid, which were the supplements routinely prescribed to pregnant women after research showed that expectant mothers need more essential nutrients, which is in MMS formulations.
“These supplements (MMS) support bone development, brain development, and the overall growth and development of the child. When we say a child is not developing well, it can affect virtually every organ system.
“Many women have nutritional deficiencies. Some simply do not eat well. Iron and folic acid alone are not sufficient during pregnancy. For example, MMS contains nutrients such as folic acid, iron, zinc, and iodine, among many others. Iodine is particularly important for proper thyroid function, while the combination of nutrients supports numerous physiological processes during pregnancy,” he said.
The maternal health expert explained that intake of MMS during pregnancy helps prevent neural tube defects, low birth weight, and other congenital abnormalities.
Aimakhu said, “Some (MMS) formulations have also been shown to contain nutrients that may help reduce the risk of conditions such as pre-eclampsia.
“For example, folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects, which are abnormalities affecting the brain and spinal cord. Iodine supports normal growth and plays an important role in brain development.
“The various vitamins contained in these supplements also help reduce the risk of low birth weight, improve pregnancy outcomes, and reduce the incidence of stillbirths.
“In addition, they help reduce the likelihood of babies being born small for their gestational age. These supplements, therefore, contribute significantly to improved pregnancy and birth outcomes.”
According to him, studies have shown that they contribute to improved maternal health and better child development.
“They are safe and highly beneficial, especially for women who are undernourished, anaemic, or from poor socioeconomic backgrounds,” he said.
Aimakhu, however, said while MMS remains a game changer, it is not a substitute for a healthy diet.
“MMS is designed to support nutrition, not replace it. Their role is to provide nutrients that the woman may be lacking. However, a pregnant woman must still eat a healthy diet. MMS provides nutrients that may not be adequately supplied through normal meals and helps support healthy maternal and fetal development.
“However, this does not mean a pregnant woman should stop eating. The supplements are exactly that—supplements. They are not a substitute for a healthy, balanced diet. They simply help provide additional nutrients that support pregnancy and fetal development,” he said.
Also, an expert in maternal and child nutrition, Prof. Beatrice Ogunba, said since roughly 61% of pregnant women in Nigeria suffer from anaemia, every expectant mothers should take MMS.
Speaking on its importance, she said, “Iron and folic acid are among the fifteen essential vitamins and minerals found in MMS. When it comes to preventing low birth weight, maternal anaemia, and other pregnancy issues, MMS has been shown to be safer and more effective than conventional iron supplements.”
Ogunba, who is a Professor of Public Health Nutrition at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, said MMS could fill several nutritional gaps in pregnant women.
“The vitamin and mineral deficiencies caused by monotonous daily diets, which are frequently made worse by poverty, are filled by MSS. MMS serves as a comprehensive safety net for low-income and vulnerable pregnant women,” she said.
According to her, MMS uses a potent combination of 15 vital nutrients in place of conventional Iron and Folic Acid tablets.
“There are significant nutritional gaps in monotonous diets that primarily rely on cheap, low-nutrient staples like cassava or maize. These latent hunger are directly addressed by MMS,” she said.
On MMS’s impact on pregnancy outcomes, the maternal and child nutrition expert said, “Pregnancy-related MMS can help lower the risk of some congenital abnormalities, especially those linked to micronutrient deficiencies. MMS contains folic acid, which is well known for preventing neural tube defects like spina bifida and anencephaly when taken before conception and during early pregnancy.”
She, however, clarified that MMS cannot prevent all birth defects, as some are caused by genetic factors, environmental exposures, or other conditions unrelated to maternal nutrition.
“When compared to iron and folic acid treatment alone, MMS, which comprises iron, folic acid, and other vital vitamins and minerals, has been demonstrated to improve pregnancy outcomes.
“MMS promotes healthy foetal growth and development while lowering the risk of low birth weight, small-for-gestational-age births, and preterm delivery. By treating certain micronutrient deficits that are typical during pregnancy, it also helps to improve the nutritional health of the mother,” she said.
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