Increasing of Nutrition Status of Pregnant Women after Supplementation of Moringa Leaf Extract (Moringa Oliefera) in the Coastal Area of Makassar, Indonesia

Pregnant women are very susceptible to malnutrition, they risk for giving birth to low birth weight babies. Moringa leaves contain fairly complete nutrients such as protein, vitamins and minerals thatare quite high. This study used a Randomized Double Blind design, Pretest-PostestControlled using a sample of non-anemia pregnant women which divided into two groups, namely the intervention group given Moringa leaf extract and the control group given iron folic supplements. Nutritional status of pregnant women is assessed using a measure of Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) weight gain during pregnancy. The average size of MUAC of pregnant women in the intervention group was 25.72±3.30 cm increasing to 26.42 + 3.24 cm (p = 0.006). The average MUAC in the control group was 25.13±3.03 cm increased to 26.08±3.27 cm (p = 0.000). There was no difference in the increase in MUAC size between the two study groups. The weight of pregnant women in the intervention group increased by 5.07 kg (8.91%) while the control group increased by 6.09 kg (10.85%) during the three months of intervention. Supplementation of Moringa leaf extract can improve maternal nutritional status, especially in the size of the upper arm circumference. Increased nutritional status in pregnant women who consume Moringa leaf extract is no different from pregnant women who take iron folic supplements.