Methods	Study design: Randomized controlled trial
	Unit of randomization: Individually randomised
	Type of study: Balanced Energy Protein
Participants	Location/setting: Metabolic ward of St. John's Research Institute, Bangalore, India
	Population: Not specified
	Sample size: 24
	Drop outs/withdrawal: None
	Socio‐demographics
	Mean (SD) age: Total: 22.9 (3.24), Intervention: 23.7 (4.1), Control: 22.2 (1.99)
	Occupation: Not specified
	Race: Not specified
	Education: Not specified
	Family income: Not specified
	Inclusion criteria:
	Only pregnant women from the same dwelling area and similar socioeconomic background were invited to join the study. Pregnant women at <13 weeks of gestation with low BMIs (≤18.5) and normal plasma folate and vitamin B‐12 status were identified and invited
	Exclusion criteria:
	Women with multiple pregnancies, those with a clinical diagnosis of chronic illness (e.g., diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiac disease, thyroid disease, or epilepsy), and those who tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, HIV, or syphilis were excluded
Interventions	Intervention (sample size):
	In addition to their normal habitual diet, the supplemented group received a daily dietary supplement of 300 kcal/day energy and 15 g protein/day (i.e., 20% of energy from protein), provided as 3 small, round granola‐type treats, called “ladoos“ in the local language, and made of crushed roasted peanuts, puffed rice, skimmed milk, clarified butter, and unrefined sugar from 1st trimester till delivery. Intervention was delivered by a social worker (n = 12)
	Control (sample size):
	No supplementation. The control group continued to consume their habitual diet. It was delivered by a social worker
	(n = 12)
	Training: Not specified
	Follow‐up:
	Protein kinetics and serine and glycine fluxes were measured by using standard stable isotope tracer methods in the fasting and postprandial state at end of 1st and beginning of 3rd trimester. 24‐h food recalls were obtained three times during each trimester of pregnancy
Outcomes	Primary outcomes: Miscarriage
	Secondary outcomes:
	Low birthweight
	Preterm birth
	Small‐for‐gestational age
	Birth weight
	Birth length
	Timing of outcome assessment: At birth
Notes	Study start date: Not specified
	Study end date: Not specified
	Time period: Not specified
	Study country: India
	Study limitations: The sample size was relatively small.
	Funding source:
	Supported by federal funds from the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, under Cooperative Agreement 58‐6250‐6001
	Conflict of interest: None