Acceso usuarios
Nur Amaliah, Veni Hadju, Healthy Hidayanty, Rahayu Indriasari, Abdul Salam, Musfira Musfira
Background: Adolescent girls are a group vulnerable to nutritional problems, particularly anaemia. Nutritional interventions and functional foods are one strategy for preventing anaemia. This study aimed to compare the effects of moringa tea and Multiple Micronutrient Supplement (MMS) on nutritional status and haemoglobin levels.
Methods: An experimental study was conducted on two groups: moringa leaf tea 2.5 g per week (Intervention, n=42) and MMS one tablet per week (Control, n=41). The 12-week intervention was carried out at school as part of the "Aksi Bergizi" programme. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometry. Haemoglobin levels were measured using Hemocue 301. Data analysis was performed descriptively and followed by bivariate analysis using the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U tests.
Results: The majority were aged 15–16 years (69% Intervention; 75.6% Control). Most parents had primary school education, with fathers mostly working as labourers/farmers and mothers as housewives. Family income in the intervention group was lower than in the control group. Nutritional status based on Z-Score IMT/U in the intervention group increased (1.15 SD) compared to the control group, which had a smaller increase (0.5 SD). Thus, the provision of moringa leaf tea in this programme resulted in a significantly higher improvement in nutritional status compared to MMS (p=0.012). Similarly, the haemoglobin levels of adolescent girls in the intervention group increased (1.6 g/dL) compared to the control group, which had a smaller increase (0.9 g/dL). The provision of moringa leaf tea significantly increased haemoglobin levels more than MMS (p=0.05).
Conclusion: Moringa leaf tea in the "Nutrition Action" programme at school is more effective in improving nutritional status and increasing haemoglobin levels in adolescent girls.
