Effect of Maternal <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Leaf Supplementation on Maternal and Infant Nutritional Status and Human Milk Output: A Pilot Single-Blinded Cluster-Randomized Trial.
Attia. Suzanna L SL; Owuor. Patrick M PM; Odhiambo. Silvia A SA; Mogaka. Jerusha N JN; Ondondo. Raphael R; Navarro. Irma Castro IC; Schadler. Aric A; McQuerry. Kristen K; Fuchs. George J GJ; Williams. Janet E JE; Scarrow. Katlyn N KN; McGuire. Mark A MA; McGuire. Michelle K MK; Waterman. Carrie C
Key Findings
- Mothers consuming Moringa powder expressed roughly 947âŻmL of milk per day versus 618âŻmL in the control group.
- Infants of Moringaâsupplemented mothers had higher serum IGFâ1 concentrations (â25âŻng/mL vs. 18âŻng/mL).
- No differences were observed in milk lipid/protein content, fatty acid profile, or infant growth metrics.
Practical Outcomes
- For breastfeeding mothers, adding Moringa leaf powder may boost milk supply and modestly raise infant IGFâ1 levels, though it doesnât affect baby growth or milk composition. This finding is not directly useful for adults seeking to manipulate their own IGFâ1, but it suggests diet can influence IGFâ1 in early life. More research is needed before recommending Moringa for broader IGFâ1 or performance goals.
Summary
A small Kenyan study gave breastfeeding moms 20âŻg of dried Moringa leaf powder daily for three months. The moms who took Moringa produced about twice as much milk as those who didnât, and their babies had higher blood levels of IGFâ1, a growthârelated hormone. Milk nutrient content and baby growth didnât change.
Abstract
Feeding of human milk enhances infant health and survival over alternative feeding methods, but early cessation often occurs due to perceived or real insufficient milk supply. <i>Moringa oleifera</i> leaves are nutrient dense and may increase milk output. We investigated the impact of maternal dried moringa leaf powder supplementation (moringa) on milk composition and output and infant and maternal health. Breastfeeding mother-infant pairs (<i>n</i> = 50) living in Kisumu County, Kenya, were cluster-randomized by location to consume moringa powder (20 g/d) in corn porridge (the moringa group) or corn porridge alone (the control group) for 3 mo. Milk and maternal/infant blood were collected and 24-h expressed milk volume evaluated at baseline and 3 mo. Maternal and infant anthropometrics were measured monthly. Milk lipid and protein concentrations and maternal and/or infant serum retinol-binding protein, ferritin/soluble transferrin receptor, and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 concentrations were measured. Nearly, all dyads (<i>n</i> = 45, 90%) completed the study. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. At 3 mo, mothers in the moringa group (mean: 947 mL; 95% CI: 794, 1113 mL) expressed twice as much milk as controls (mean: 618 mL; 95% CI: 486, 763 mL; <i>P</i> = 0.003). Infant serum IGF-1 concentration was greater in the moringa group (mean: 25.2 ng/mL; 95% CI: 21.0, 29.5 ng/mL) than that in the control group (mean: 17.8 ng/mL; 95% CI: 13.6, 22.0 ng/mL; <i>P</i> = 0.017). There was no effect of moringa on total milk lipid and protein concentrations, fatty acids, or infant growth. In this population, 3 mo of maternal moringa consumption was associated with increased expressed milk output and higher circulating infant IGF-1 without impacting infant growth. Additional studies are needed to understand the mechanisms driving these effects and their influence on long-term health.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04587271 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04587271).
Study Information
pubmed
2025
2025-10-03T00:00:00.000Z
10.1016/j.cdnut.2025.107568
52