Background:

Moringa oleifera is a plant species; its leaves, flowers and, fruits are appreciated for the richness of nutrients and antioxidant potential.

Objetive:

To evaluate the effect of an infusion of dry leaves of Moringa oleifera on the blood values of hemoglobin and ferritin in a group of adolescents.

Materials and Methods:

Longitudinal before-and-after study for six months in 31 adolescents from the Cerro Guayabal community,Ecuador. For the nutritional supplementation, 4 grams of powdered Moringa oleifera leaves were used in two infusion bags. Macronutrients and minerals were quantified in the Moringa oleifera dry leaves and in its infusion. The mineral analyzes were carried out in triplicate, in an atomic absorption equipment. Hemoglobin and ferritin were measured in adolescents at baseline and after six months of supplementation.

Results:

Significant increase of 1.29 g in the average figure of hemoglobin, and decrease in the number of adolescents at risk of anemia according to the values of ferritin and hemoglobin.

Conclusions:

These results place the plant species Moringa oleifera as a potential and useful food to combat nutritional deficiencies, especially iron deficiency anemia.

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