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Efficacyofmalunggayleaves Acta Horticulturae
Efficacyofmalunggayleaves Acta Horticulturae
Efficacyofmalunggayleaves Acta Horticulturae
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8 authors, including:
Michael Serafico
Leah Ancheta Perlas
Food and Nutrition Research
Institute Food and Nutrition Research Institute
Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:
Folate Deficiency Among Filipino Pregnant Women: 6th National Nutrition Survey View project
Field Testing of Complementary Feeding and Nutrition Education Intervention in Selected Philippine Villages View project
All content following this page was uploaded by Leah Ancheta Perlas on 01 August 2017.
Abstract
The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and vitamin A deficiency (VAD) remain at a significant p
INTRODUCTION
Iron and vitamin A deficiencies continue to be problems in developing countries
(Yang et al., 2006b). In the Philippines, the prevalence of iron and vitamin A deficiencies
continuously remain at levels that pose a public health concern. The 7 th National
Nutrition Survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute-Department of
Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) in 2008 showed that among 6-12 years old
children, 19.8 and 11.1% were anemic and vitamin A deficient, respectively (Food and
Nutrition Research Institute-Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST),
2010a, b).
On the other hand, the status of B-vitamins of Filipino schoolchildren has not been
assessed for the past ten years. Vitamin B deficiencies may become a public health concern
because foods rich in these vitamins such as dairy products and dark green leafy vegetables
like romaine lettuce, kale, spinach, watercress and broccoli are relatively expensive.
Government investments have poured to various intervention programs designed to
address the malnutrition problem. Approaches have included fortification,
supplementation, nutrition education and supplementary feeding programs utilizing
nutritious and low cost
a
E-mail: mes@fnri.dost.gov.ph
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The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Food and Nutrition Research
Institute Institutional Ethics and Review Committee (FIERC). Informed, written consent
was
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obtained from the children’s parents after the purpose and procedures of the study were
explained.
Moringa leaves
Moringa leaf powder was purchased from Japan-Philippines Malunggay Eco Farm, Inc.
(JPM) located in the Province of Laguna. Nutrient content of MLP was determined by the
Food Analytical Service Laboratory of FNRI.
Statistical analysis
All data were transformed to numerical codes guided by a coding manual prepared
for the study. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 9.0 was used for
encoding and statistical analysis. Parametric tests such as t-test and paired t-test were
used to compare means among normally distributed variables. Chi-square test was used
to compare proportions between groups.
RESULTS
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line
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a lower percentage for both groups were noted (data not shown).
Table 1. Nutrient content of snacks foods and Malunggay leaf powder per serving.
Energy and nutrient content
Snack products Energy CHO Pro Fe Vit. A B2 Vit.C
(kcal) (g) (g) (mg) (µg) (mg) (mg)
Arrozcaldo (210 g) 219.6 40.4 5.1 1.5 0.8 0.1 0.0
Ginataang mais (210 g) 421.5 71.4 6.4 1.8 6.8 0.1 0.0
Pancit canton (210 g) 342.6 43.6 8.8 2.5 154.8 0.1 4.6
Macaroni soup (240 g) 262.4 45.1 9.6 2.4 35.8 0.2 0.0
Polvoron (60 g) 625.4 77.3 13.7 3.0 192.3 0.5 2.8
Malunggay leaves powder (3 11.5 1.51 0.8 0.4 225.91 No data 2.1
g)
1Converted from ß-carotene.
Anthropometric status
Baseline mean weight of children was similar for both groups (20.45±1.73 and
20.17±2.37 kg for the experimental and control group, respectively) as presented in Table
2. Mean weights for both groups increased significantly (p<0.001), with the control
group having slightly higher increase. The mean change in weight across periods
between study groups was not significant.
Table 2. Mean weight and height (±SD) of children by study group and period.
Study Group
Variables Experimental Control p-value1
n=60 n=61
Weight (kg)
Baseline 20.45±1.73 20.17±2.37 0.468
End-line 21.89±2.18 22.00±2.94 0.813
Difference +1.44 +1.82
p-value2 0.001 0.001
Height (cm)
Baseline 124.68±4.78 123.64±6.69 0.325
End-line 126.51±5.01 126.14±6.95 0.742
Difference +1.82 +2.51
p-value 0.001 0.001
1Using independent sample t-test.
2Using paired-sample t-test.
The baseline mean height of study children in the experimental group (124.68±4.78
cm) was not different with that of children in the control group (123.64±6.69 cm). Similarly,
at end-line their mean heights were not significantly different from each other (126.51±5.01
vs. 126.14±6.95 cm). The mean change in height between study groups was not significantly
different, while the mean change in height from baseline to end-line within study groups was
significantly different (p<.001).
The mean BMI-for-age z-score of children in the experimental and control groups
were both significantly different across periods but differences were not significant
between groups.
Biochemical indices
Table 3 shows mean hemoglobin, ferritin, serum retinol, folic acid and EGR-AC of
the study children. At the start of the feeding trial, hemoglobin levels of the experimental
and control groups were statistically the same (p=0.854). At the end of the feeding
period, mean
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hemoglobin levels of the experimental group increased by 0.3 g dL-1 (p=0.015) and that
of the control group increased by 0.2 g dL -1 (p=0.025). Both had significant increases in
hemoglobin levels with the experimental group having a slightly higher increase.
Table 3. Mean concentration (±SD) of hemoglobin, ferritin, serum retinol, folic acid and
EGR-AC by study group and period.
Study group
Biochemical parameter Experimental Control p-value1
n=60 n=61
Hemoglobin (g dL-1)
Baseline 12.5±0.10 12.5±0.13 0.854
End-line 12.8±0.11 12.7±0.11 0.540
p-value2 0.015 0.025
Ferritin (ng mL-1)
Baseline 53.9±6.11 47.8±3.5 0.386
Endline 39.4±3.7 39.4±3.7 0.998
p-value 0.010 0.033
Serum rerinol (µg dL-1)
Baseline 34.0±0.89 32.9 ± 0.88 0.375
End-line 34.8±0.90 34.6 ± 0.85 0.897
p-value 0.438 0.036
Riboflavin
Baseline 1.03±0.015 1.03 ± 0.021 0.932
End-line 1.01±0.016 1.03 ± 0.018 0.487
p-value 0.384 0.931
Serum folic acid (ng mL-
1)
Table 4. Mean one-day energy and nutrient intake (±SD) of children by study group and
period.
Study Group
Energy and nutrients Experimental Control p-value1
n=60 n=61
Energy (kcal day-1)
Baseline 1131.83±360.58 (64.3) 1235.13±297.54 (74.3) 0.088
End-line 1510.57±392.46 (85.9) 1684.34±438.87 (101.8) 0.023
p-value2 0.000 0.000
Protein (g day-1)
Baseline 32.22±12.32 (69.6) 35.34±9.00 (79.8) 0.115
End-line 42.36±11.94 (91.7) 46.58±13.74 (105.6) 0.074
p-value 0.000 0.000
Iron (mg day-1)
Baseline 6.52±2.80 (50.8) 6.99±2.70 (58.5) 0.348
End-line 8.85±2.21 (70.1) 9.11±2.83 (77.4) 0.582
p-value 0.000 0.000
Vitamin A (µg day-1)
Baseline 236.11±150.96 (59.0) 279.82±198.58 (70.0) 0.716
End-line 515.04±105.00 (128.8) 284.66±124.00 (71.2) 0.000
p-value 0.000 0.869
Vitamin C (mg day-1)
Baseline 12.38±15.31 (30.8) 13.16±14.23 (35.5) 0.772
End-line 14.06±11.41 (36.0) 17.55±34.98 (48.0) 0.462
p-value 0.000 0.000
1Using independent sample t-test.
2Using paired-sample t-test.
DISCUSSION
Moringa olefeira is said to be one of the world’s most useful plants. Almost all of
its parts – leaves, fruits and roots have been used for a variety of food and medicinal
purposes (bar.gov.ph). It is an excellent source of nutrition and a natural energy booster. It
is loaded with nutrients and vitamins and amino acids. Locally known as Malunggay, its
leaves are rich in protein and other nutrients, which can be used by doctors, nutritionists
and community health workers to treat undernutrition and a variety of illnesses (Thurber
and Fahey, 2009).
Malunggay is known to be very rich in several macronutrients, micronutrients and
antioxidants (Thurber and Fahey, 2009; Oduro et al., 2008) and thus is one of the
promising crops that could help alleviate micronutrient deficiencies. To date, there are
very few documented studies on this. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the
efficacy of MLP in improving the iron, and vitamins A and B status of Filipino children.
Popular snack foods such as arrozcaldo, ginataang mais, pancit canton, macaroni
soup and polvoron were chosen for the feeding trial. Acceptability tests were conducted
before the actual feeding trial, however, the amount of MLP added was limited because of the
very dark color it imparted to the snack foods. As well, taste of food with more than 3 g MLP
was bitter and unacceptable even for adults. This is lower than the 5-7 g of dried M. oleifera
leaf powder added to daily salty snacks of 1-5 year old children in India (Nambiar et. al.,
2003).
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Nutrient intake of the children in the control group at end-line was higher when
only household food and snack foods were considered, but the difference was reduced
when MLP was added. Highest reductions were recorded for protein, energy, calcium,
vitamin A and vitamin C intakes. It is widely reported that Malunggay is a very rich
source of nutrients. Nutrients from the MLP consumed by the study children may not
have provided the required amount for it to result in a significant increase in nutrient
intake among the children given 3 g MLP daily but resulted in increase in height and
weight of the children.
In Burkina Faso, a complementary food (CF) made with Moringa oleifera seeds,
was tested and compared to the existing CF in the area (Compaoré et al., 2011). The
study was conducted among severely malnourished, 6-36 months old infants. Feeding
lasted till children were eligible for the home-based therapy study when complications
were resolved and their appetite returned. Duration of recovery was about 45 days for the
group given CF with moringa compared to about 100 days for the group given the
existing CF. Weight gain was higher in those given CF with moringa. However, increase
in hemoglobin level was not significant in the CF with moringa.
The additional nutrients provided by 3 g MLP resulted in minimal changes in the
biochemical parameters studied. A significant increase in hemoglobin was recorded for both
groups. Three grams of MLP provided 0.4 mg Fe d-1 (Table 1), which unfortunately was not
enough to meet the requirement for iron. Moreover, the bioavailability of iron could have
been inhibited by the presence of phytate and fiber in MLP. It has been shown that as little as
2 mg phytate can reduce iron absorption by 18% (Hallberg et al., 1989). The bioavailability
of iron in MLP was reported to be 17.1% (Trinidad et al., 2013).
We have not found any study on efficacy of MLP among 8-10 year old children. A
four- week intervention study using the maize traditional CF with moringa, among
infants 6-12 months, conducted in Nigeria, resulted in an increase in hemoglobin, serum
ferritin and serum retinol level (Nnam, 2009). Likewise, mean hemoglobin levels
increased significantly in a 3-month efficacy trial among moderately anemic lactating
women in Senegal (Idohou- Dossou et al., 2011). These women received 100 g of MLP
each week which is much more than what we gave to the children in this study. We gave
3 g day-1 or 21 g week-1. Serum ferritin levels remained unchanged at the end of the
intervention, which is similar to findings of our study. Mean ferritin levels of the children
in our study were normal.
Malunggay is very rich in β-carotene which eventually converts to vitamin A.
Beta- carotene and lutein from fresh and dried Malunggay leaves are also highly
bioavailable (Pullakhandam and Failla, 2007). Increase in vitamin A intake in the
experimental group was highly significant as a result of the 3 g MLP. The end-line mean
vitamin A intake of the experimental group has increased to a level higher than that of
the requirement for vitamin A for this age group. However, this amount did not result in
an increase in serum retinol levels of the children. Mean serum retinol levels of the
children were normal at the start of the intervention. Studies have shown that intervention
and supplementation trials are more effective in those with low micronutrient levels.
A significant increase in serum folic acid was recorded among the children given 3 g
MLP day-1. This is an indicator of recent intake of the nutrient. Among green, leafy
vegetables, Malunggay leaves contain the highest dietary folate equivalents amounting to
370 µg 100 g-1 (Food and Nutrition Research Institute-Department of Science and
Technology (FNRI-DOST), 2010a, b). These could have been the driver to increase the
concentration of serum folate among the children in the experimental group.
CONCLUSIONS
The following conclusions can be drawn from the study:
- Increase in mean hemoglobin level was greater for children given snack foods with
three grams of Malunggay leaf powder compared to those given only snack foods.
However, both groups had a significant increase in hemoglobin level.
- Children given snack foods with three grams MLP achieved more than 100% of their
daily vitamin A requirement.
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- Improved serum folic acid concentration could be attributed to the high folate
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content of MLP. Significant increase in serum folic acid level was observed among
children given snack foods with MLP but not in the control group.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to express their deepest gratitude to the following: the
Philippine Council for Health Research and Development for funding the study, DepEd NCR,
parents and student participants. In addition, thank you is extended to the staff of
Nutritional Biochemistry Section, Ms. Marites Alibayan, Ms. Joselita Rosario Ulanday, Ms.
Asuncion Torres, Ms. Adorie Sabenecio, Ms. Eva Rebato, Ms. Ma. Estrella Valle, Ms. Dovie
Domiquel, and Mr. Herbert Patalen who helped prepare the snack foods and assisted in field
data collection; Mr. Carl Vincent Cabanilla for retinol analysis; Mr. Jeffrey de Leon, Mr.
Eldridge Ferrer and Ms. Aileen Joy Ramos for the statistical analyses.
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