The Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation in Pregnancy Technical Advisory Group (MMS TAG) is an interdisciplinary group of experts in nutrition, maternal health, and public health. Since 2023, the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Consortium (HMHB) has hosted the MMS TAG to support its ongoing mission.
The MMS TAG’s mission is to interpret emerging evidence on MMS and provide high-fidelity guidance to governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), foundations, multilateral organizations, and the private sector.
History
In response to the 2016 WHO Guidelines for Antenatal Care, the New York Academy of Sciences assembled a scientific task force comprised of international experts in micronutrient deficiencies, public health, nutrition, pediatrics, and health economics to:
- Compile the evidence on the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in pregnant women or women of reproductive age.
- Review the evidence on the benefits and risks of multiple micronutrient supplements on maternal and perinatal outcomes.
- Create a roadmap to guide decisions in countries considering the implementation of such programs.
Evolution
The establishment of the MMS Task Force resulted in some key publications:
- Review of the evidence regarding the use of antenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation in low- and middle-income countries
- The upper level: examining the risk of excess micronutrient intake in pregnancy from antenatal supplements
- Replacing iron-folic acid with multiple micronutrient supplements among pregnant women in Bangladesh and Burkina Faso: costs, impacts, and cost-effectiveness
The first phase of this initiative revealed that shifting from iron and folic acid supplementation (IFA) to MMS in antenatal care (ANC) programs could yield substantial benefits in improving birth outcomes.
The MMS TAG was established in 2018 to promote MMS among pregnant women in several low and middle-income countries in close collaboration with UNICEF, with funding from the Gates Foundation. The TAG is now focused on addressing global evidence gaps and questions from countries implementing MMS.
Publications
Over the years, the MMS TAG has produced numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications, technical briefs, guidance documents, and technical presentations for national actors.
ExploreMembers
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Parul Christian
“DSM, Basel has provided micronutrient powder sachets at cost for my trial in Bangladesh. We have purchased MMS from Renata, Ltd in Bangladesh, also for a trial.”Saskia Osendarp
“MNF received conference sponsor funding from DSM-Firmenich, a supplier of MMS.”All the other MMS TAG members have no potential conflicts of interest to declare.