Effect of moringa leaf powder supplementation on hemoglobin levels among anemic adolescent girls

Iron deficiency anemia is a major nutritional problem among adolescent girls due to inadequate dietary intake and increased iron requirements during growth. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of moringa leaf powder (MLP) supplementation in improving hemoglobin levels among anemic adolescent girls in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh during 2022-2024. A total of 30 moderately anemic girls aged 13-18 years with hemoglobin levels between 9-10 g per dL were selected. The participants received 10 g of dry moringa leaf powder daily for three months along with their regular diet. Anthropometric measurements, dietary assessment, clinical examination and biochemical evaluation were conducted before and after the intervention. The findings revealed inadequate intake of energy, protein, calcium, iron and vitamin A among the respondents. Clinical examination indicated mild to moderate anemia with symptoms such as pale skin and pale eyes. After supplementation, the mean hemoglobin level increased from 9.1 g per dL to 10.9 g per dL, showing an improvement of 1.8 g per dL. A slight improvement in body weight and body mass index was also observed after intervention. The study indicated that moringa leaf powder, being rich in iron and essential nutrients, can effectively improve hemoglobin levels among anemic adolescent girls and may serve as a low-cost dietary supplement for the management of iron deficiency anemia.