16 July 2025 – The Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Consortium (HMHB) has released two new global resources on Balanced Energy and Protein (BEP) dietary supplementation during pregnancy—now available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. The publications aim to support implementers, policymakers, and advocates with up-to-date evidence and practical guidance on the use of BEP supplements to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.
The new resources include:
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Fact Sheet on BEP Dietary Supplementation During Pregnancy (November 2024) – A concise overview of BEP composition, the latest research evidence, and WHO recommendations. Available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document (June 2025) – Answers to common and critical questions related to BEP supplementation, including its formulation, target populations, expected outcomes, and current research efforts. Available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
BEP dietary supplements are a specialized form of ready-to-use nutritional supplements. They provide energy, protein, and multiple micronutrients in a balanced formulation, where protein contributes less than 25% of the total energy content. This formulation is particularly designed for undernourished pregnant women, aiming to address maternal undernutrition and its associated risks.
Research has shown that providing BEP dietary supplementation during pregnancy, compared to standard iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation alone, can lead to significant improvements in birth outcomes. These include increased birth weight and reduced risks of stillbirth and infants being born too small for their gestational age.
These multilingual resources are intended to inform national health actors, program implementers, donors, and advocates working to improve maternal nutrition and reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes. As interest in BEP supplementation grows globally, the resources offer timely and practical tools to guide program design and implementation in line with WHO recommendations.