Effect of the addition of Moringa Oleifera to fruit drinks on clinical parameters associated with iron deficiency anaemia in schoolchildren

Worldwide, iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is one the most significant nutritional maladies, especially in low and middle-income countries. This is mainly due to the associated morbidity, economic implications on the health system and the welfare state. One of the most prevalent causes of IDA in children is insufficient food intake, which has an obvious connection with the social environment. The main strategy in the management of this condition is counteracting such deficiency through the improvement of nutrition and family upbringing. Aiming to explore affordable, novel and straightforward approaches to treat this nutritional condition, we developed a descriptive study associated with the incorporation of Moringa Oleifera in homemade fruit beverages delivered to 32 children from low-income families, in order to assess the evolution of IDA, evaluating specific clinical parameters such as red blood cells volume, as well as hemoglobin, ferritin and serum iron levels, within a two months lapse. At the end of this period, we observed a significant statistical rise in the levels of all the assessed parameters, finding about a 1.3-fold increase in hemoglobin and ferritin levels and in red blood cells volume; serum iron was 1.1 times higher. These findings are demonstrative of the wide spectrum of the medicinal features of Moringa and establish a promising and accessible strategy easy to incorporate into the diet of families of children suffering this pathology(AU)

La anemia ferropénica (AF) es una de las carencias nutricionales más significativas a nivel mundial, especialmente en los países de bajos y medios ingresos, debido principalmente a la morbilidad asociada, las implicaciones en el sistema de salud y el estado de bienestar. Una de las causas más frecuentes de esta deficiencia en los niños es la ingesta insuficiente, que tiene una evidente conexión con el entorno social. La principal estrategia en el manejo de esta afección es contrarrestar esta deficiencia a través de la mejora de la nutrición y la educación familiar. Con el objetivo de explorar enfoques asequibles, novedosos y directos para el tratamiento de esta enfermedad, se desarrolló un estudio descriptivo asociado a la incorporación de la Moringa Oleifera en bebidas de frutas caseras que se suministraron a 32 niños de familias de bajos ingresos para hacerle seguimiento a la evolución de la anemia por deficiencia de hierro, evaluando parámetros clínicos específicos como el volumen de células rojas y los niveles de hemoglobina, ferritina y hierro sérico en un lapso de dos meses. Se observó un aumento estadísticamente significativo en los niveles de todos los parámetros evaluados una vez finalizado el período de intervención. Al final del ensayo, observamos un aumento estadístico significativo en los niveles de todos los parámetros evaluados, encontrando un aumento de aproximadamente 1.3 veces en los niveles de hemoglobina y ferritina y en el volumen de los glóbulos rojos; el hierro sérico fue 1.1 veces mayor. Estos hallazgos son una demostración del amplio espectro de las características medicinales de la Moringa y establecen una estrategia prometedora y accesible, fácil de incorporar a la dieta de las familias de los niños que sufren esta patología(AU)

Physicochemical characterization and antioxidant activity of decolorized Moringa oleifera Lam leaf flour

BACKGROUND: Maringa oleifera leaves are rich in antioxidant substances; however, when lyophilized leaves were used in flour form in meat products, they presented no antioxidant effect and even accelerated the oxidation process of the product. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of chlorophyll extraction on the physicochemical composition and antioxidant activity of Moringa leaves. METHODS: Moringa leaves were dried and ground in order to obtain uniform flour. A treatment using chlorophyll extraction (decolorized) was tested versus a control treatment(non-decolorized) for proximate composition, instrumental color, and antioxidant activity using ANOVA followed by Tukey'stest. RESULTS: Higher crude fiber, ash, and protein contents were observed for decolorized flour (19.41 and 38.13%, 11.87 and14.02%, and 28.81 and 31.33%, respectively) when compared to those for the control. Chlorophyll extraction significantly affected (p< 0.05) the instrumental color of the leaves flour. The half maximal effective concentration (EC50) of both decolorized and control flour was 3.74 and 4.30 mg/L, respectively. The equivalent of antioxidant per gramof non-decolorized leaves was higher than that observed for the decolorized leaves (0.36 and 0.32 g/g DPPH, respectively). The antioxidant activity (AA%) of the extract from non-decolorized leaves was higher in the concentrations of 5 and 2.5 mg/0.1 mL, while the decolorized leaves was higher in the extract concentration 5 and 2 mg/0.1 ml. CONCLUSION: The decolorization process affected the chemical composition and color of Moringa oleifera leaves flours however did not improve its antioxidant activity