Maternal supplementation to improve fetal brain development in growth-restricted pregnancies

Fetal Brain Care: Therapies for Brain Neurodevelopment in Fetal Growth Restriction

Not applicable Interventional Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer · NCT05038462

This study is testing if giving pregnant women supplements to help their babies' brain development can improve outcomes for babies who are not growing well in the womb.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment304 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexFemale
SponsorInstitut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer Academic / other
Locations6 sites (Barcelona and 5 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05038462 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the effects of maternal oral supplementation with Lactoferrin and DHA on the neurodevelopment of babies diagnosed with fetal growth restriction between 24 to 32.6 weeks of gestation. Pregnant women will be randomly assigned to receive either the active supplements or a placebo. The primary goal is to determine if this prenatal intervention can enhance neurodevelopment outcomes, while secondary objectives include assessing improvements in fetal growth and reductions in perinatal morbidity and mortality.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are pregnant women with singleton pregnancies diagnosed with fetal growth restriction between 24 and 32.6 weeks of gestation.

Not a fit: Patients with chromosomal or structural abnormalities, critical Doppler findings necessitating immediate delivery, or maternal psychiatric disorders may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could lead to improved neurodevelopmental outcomes for infants affected by fetal growth restriction.

How similar studies have performed: While the approach of using maternal supplementation for fetal development is explored in other studies, this specific combination of Lactoferrin and DHA in the context of fetal growth restriction is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Singleton pregnancies
* Non-malformed fetus
* Pregnancies with fetal growth restriction
* 24-32.6 weeks of gestation

Exclusion Criteria:

* Chromosomal or structural abnormalities diagnosed during pregnancy or in the neonatal period
* Critical Doppler study suggesting the need for delivery within the next 14 days at the time of diagnosis: reverse end-diastolic velocity in the umbilical artery or ductus venosus pulsatility \>95th centile
* Maternal mental or psychiatric disorders
* Maternal allergy to cow's milk protein

Where this trial is running

Barcelona and 5 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Fetal Growth RetardationIntrauterine Growth RestrictionFetal Growth RestrictionNeurodevelopmentLactoferrinDHA
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.