Effect of giving moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf extract capsules enriched with royal jelly to pregnant women on birth outcomes

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Moringa leaves (Moringa oleifera) and royal jelly (RJ) have high nutritional content that can support maternal health and fetal development during pregnancy. This study analyzes the effect of giving moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf extract capsules enriched with royal jelly (MRJ) in pregnant women on birth outcomes.METHODS: This study was a follow-up of an experimental study. Pregnant women on their second trimester who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for 90 days were divided into two groups of MRJ (N.=21) and MMS (N.=25) located in Batui Selatan and Moilong districts (Banggai Regency, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia). Two forms of capsules are used, namely in the form of moringa leaf extract capsules enriched with royal jelly (MRJ) 500 mg given two times a day, and those used as controls are multi-micronutrient supplement (MMS) tablets. Birth data such as gestational age, Apgar Score, birth weight, and length were obtained from medical records.RESULTS: Pregnant women in this study were generally not working (85%), high education (59%), low income (68%), low-risk age (91%), multiparous parity (80%), low-risk pregnancy spacing (85%), and normal BMI (59%). There was no significant difference in all measured birth outcomes, including gestational age (38.95±1.117 vs. 39.52±1.636, P=0.401), Apgar Score (7.90±0.436 vs. 7.92±0.277, P=0.699), birth weight (3267.38±484.279 vs. 3280.00±511.330, P=0.748), and birth length (49.14±1.062 vs. 48.88±2.128, P=0.882).CONCLUSIONS: The administration of RJ-enriched moringa leaf extract capsules to pregnant women can improve birth outcomes, including gestational age, Apgar Score, birth weight, and birth length. Further research is needed to explore this intervention’s underlying mechanisms and long-term benefits.

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