Effect of Moringa supplementation in the management of moderate malnutrition in children under 5 receiving ready-to-use supplementary foods in Niger: A randomized clinical trial
1 Free University of Brussels, School of Public Health, Lennik road, N° 808, BP 598, CP 1070, PhD student, Brussels, Belgium.
2 Free University of Brussels, School of Public Health, Member of the Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Brussels, Belgium.
3 National Hospital of Niamey, Laboratory of the National Hospital of Niamey, Head of laboratory, Niamey, Niger.
4 Cheik Anta Diop University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Professor of Physiology and Nutrition, Dakar, Senegal.
5 Free University of Brussels, School of Public Health, Professor, Department of Education, Brussels, Belgium.
6 Free University of Brussels, School of Public Health, Professor, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Brussels, Belgium, Brussels, Belgium.
Research Article
GSC Advanced Research and Reviews, 2021, 08(03), 071–086.
Article DOI: 10.30574/gscarr.2021.8.3.0189
Publication history:
Received on 03 August 2021; revised on 07 September 2021; accepted on 09 September 2021
Abstract:
Each year in Niger, more than 40% of children under 5 years suffer from chronic malnutrition and more than 10% from acute malnutrition. The national nutrition rehabilitation protocol encourages the use of local foods. The objective of this work is to analyze the impact of supplementation in Moringa oleifera. We conducted a randomized double-blind clinical trial in 400 children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) aged 6 to 59 months admitted to outpatient nutritional recovery centers (CRENAM). The children were divided into two groups; one group received Ready-to-Use Supplemental Foods (RUSF) and dry leaf powder from Moringa oleifera and the other group received RUSF and placebo. We did not find any difference on average weight gain between the two groups or on mid-upper arm circumference and size. The median length of stay in CRENAM was 5 and 4 weeks for Moringa and placebo respectively, with no statistical difference (P=0.522). The cure rate was 82% (2.72) in the Moringa group with a RR of 1.03 (0.94 to 1.13) slightly in favor of Moringa. Renal and hepatic toxicity of Moringa was not observed. From this clinical trial, it could be held that Moringa supplementation, despite the presence of nutritional indices in favor of Moringa, does not have a significant effect on the nutritional recovery of MAM children but that Moringa has no renal or hepatic toxicity. Supplementation in subjects already on dietetic treatment, dose reduced to minimum and duration of supplementation seems to have played a role in this absence of effect of Moringa.
Keywords:
Moringa oleifera; Powder; Malnutrition; Supplementation
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