The extract of Moringa leaf has an equivalent effect to iron folic acid in increasing hemoglobin levels of pregnant women: A randomized control study

Moringa is a tropical plant that is often found in South Sulawesi, but the use is still limited as a vegetable. Moringa leaf contain a number of nutrients such as protein, iron and vitamin C potentially to prevent anemia were more common in pregnant women. This study aimed to determine the effect of Moringa leaf extract for anemia prevention in pregnant women. This study used a Randomized Double Blind design, Pretest-Posttest controlled by using a sample of non-anemic pregnant women. Hemoglobin (Hb) level was measured by cyanment hemoglobin method using a hemocue. Hb levels of pregnant women in a group of moringa leaf extract before intervention (11 283 ?? 0777 g/dL) increased to 11 754 ?? 1089 g/dL after intervention (p = 0.040). Hb levels of pregnant women in folic iron group also increased between before and after intervention (p = 0.002). The amount of increase in hemoglobin concentration of pregnant women in folic iron group of 0.9886 ?? 1.7638 g/dL) higher than moringa leaf extract group (0.4771 ?? 1.3051 g/dL), but a large increase in hemoglobin levels between the two groups was not significant (p = 0168).\ud \ud Moringa leaf extract can improve hemoglobin levels and have equal ability with iron supplements of folic acid in preventing anemia in pregnant women. Moringa leaf extract can be used as an alternative to prevention of anemia in pregnant women