Impact of Maternal Moringa oleifera Leaf Supplementation on Milk and Serum Vitamin A and Carotenoid Concentrations in Breastfeeding Kenyan Women and Their Infants

This randomized controlled trial investigated whether moringa leaf powder supplementation could improve vitamin A and carotenoid levels in breast milk and blood of Kenyan mothers and their infants. Fifty mother-infant pairs were recruited, with 44 completing the 90-day study. Mothers received 20 grams of moringa leaf powder daily. The results showed mixed outcomes - while alpha-carotene levels in breast milk were significantly higher in the moringa group at the end of the study (p=0.014), there was no significant impact on milk vitamin A (retinol) concentrations. The study found limited overall increases in carotenoid levels despite moringa's known high carotenoid content. Notably, 9% of mothers (4 out of 44) had vitamin A deficiency at baseline. The research suggests that while moringa supplementation can increase specific carotenoids like alpha-carotene in breast milk, it may not substantially improve overall vitamin A status in this population. This finding is important for understanding moringa's potential role in addressing vitamin A deficiency in breastfeeding populations in developing countries.