The World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommends the pregnant women receive iron-containing supplements and, in settings where calcium intake is low, calcium supplements. Supplements are to be taken at two separate times of the day as calcium may interfere with iron absorption. The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether taking daily calcium supplements and iron-containing multiple micronutrient supplements together, at the same time, has any negative impact on the hemoglobin or iron status of pregnant women or the woman's infants. Participants will be randomly assigned and counseled to either take the supplements together every morning or to take the multiple micronutrient supplement in the morning and the calcium supplement in the evening. Participants will visit the antenatal clinic monthly and be asked to provide a blood sample in early, mid, and late pregnancy. Researchers will also take blood samples from infants at the time of birth.
Who can participate
Age range
15 Years
Sex
FEMALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Burkina Faso: married or unmarried pregnant women aged ≥15 years
* Pakistan: married pregnant women ≥18 years
* Willing to receive all antenatal care at a study clinic
* Willing to stop iron folic acid supplementation to receive the study intervention
* Hb ≥70 g/L
* 6\<20 weeks of gestation based on fetal ultrasound
Exclusion Criteria:
* Burkina Faso: \<15 years or unmarried pregnant women \<18 years without consent from parent / guardian
* Pakistan: pregnant women \<18 years.
* Unwilling to receive antenatal care at a study clinic
* Unwilling to stop iron folic acid supplementation to receive the study intervention
* Hemoglobin \< 70 g/L
* \<6 weeks of gestation or ≥20 weeks of gestation
* Non-viable or extrauterine pregnancy
* Any contraindications to study supplements
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Hemoglobin concentration of pregnant women
Timeframe: 30<34 weeks of gestation
Trial details
NCT IDNCT06568315
SponsorJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health