Effects of Moringa oleifera leaves on hemoglobin and serum retinol levels and underweight status among adolescent girls in rural Bangladesh

Abstract

ObjectivesMoringa oleifera has been used for centuries due to its medicinal properties and health benefits. The plant has antifungal, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory properties. We aimed to evaluate the effect of consumption of Moringa leaves, along with a regular diet on serum hemoglobin and retinol and underweight status among rural Bangladeshi adolescent girls.MethodsThis school-based quasi-experimental study involved 226 adolescent girls (12–14 years-old). Intervention group (n = 113) received a meal comprising rice, concentrated dal, and fried potato with Moringa pakora (oil-fried snack); the control group (at a different school in an adjacent area with similar population demographics) received calorie-matched meal without Moringa pakora for 6 months. We used generalized liner regression (GLM) analysis, to explore the effect of the intervention among the groups between baseline and endline.ResultsMean age of the intervention and control groups were 12.7 ± 0.7 and 13.3 ± 0.8 years, respectively. After adjusting for maternal education, absenteeism, asset index, BMI-for-age Z-score, GLM regression showed significant positive changes in hemoglobin (intervention vs. control: coef = 0.41, P = 0.010) and serum retinol (coef = 0.27, P = 0.00). No significant changes in weight was observed between groups.ConclusionConsumption of Moringa leaves has the potential to improving hemoglobin and serum retinol level and should be encouraged as regular diet.

The Effect of Fresh Moringa Leaf Consumption During Pregnancy on Maternal Hemoglobin Level in Southern Ethiopia: Multilevel Analysis of a Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

“…The hemoglobin level was 0.90g/dl higher among fresh moringa leaf consumers than nonconsumers. This is in line with previous studies conducted in Indonesia, India, Senegal, Bangladesh and recent reviews 37,38,42,[51][52][53][54][55][56] where the intake of moringa in different forms treats anemia. This may be due to the nutrient content of moringa.…”

Moringa oleifera: Recent Insights for Its Biochemical and Medicinal Applications

“…Clinical studies also approved the ability of MO to improve vitamin A (retinol) kinetics and store with an ameliorated malnutrition status in children [250,251], improvement of vitamin A levels in postmenopausal women [252], and improved the serum retinol levels in adolescent girls. [253].…”