Improving infant Neurocognitive Development and Growth Outcomes with micronutrients (INDiGO): A protocol for an efficacy trial in rural Gambia

Background Undernutrition during the early years of life has a harmful and irreversible impact on child growth and cognitive development. Many of the interventions tested to improve outcomes across infancy have had disappointing or inconsistent impact, a common feature being the absence of any attempt to provide nutritional supplements to infants during the first six months. With increasing evidence of micronutrient deficiencies in this age group, alongside strong evidence that growth and developmental deficits begin before six months, a renewed focus on the micronutrient status of infants is required. Methods This study is a five-arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised efficacy trial of micronutrient supplementation to mothers (during pregnancy or pregnancy and lactation) and infants (Day 8 to six months of age) in rural Gambia, where rates of micronutrient deficiencies are high. 600 pregnant women (<20 weeks gestation) will be enrolled into one of five trial arms and followed to 12 months post-partum. The primary outcome will be infant brain development at six months, with micronutrient status, growth and neurocognitive development to 12 months as secondary outcomes. Discussion This novel research will identify the most efficacious way of improving micronutrient status in infancy, and assess impact on infant developmental outcomes, providing an evidence base for future effectiveness trials and policy recommendations. Trial registration ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN15063705, 09/07/2021); Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR202201552774601, 21/01/2022).