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Late Breaking/Rapid Science Poster Session 1

(LB02-02-24) Maternal Moringa oleifera Leaf Supplementation Enhances Select Human Milk Carotenoid Content

Sunday, June 30, 2024
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM CT
Location: W185A-C - Poster Board 2
Disclosure(s):
Suzanna L. Attia, MD, MScPH: Kentucky Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition: Speaker/Speaker's Bureau (Terminated, May 31, 2024)


Objectives: Childhood vitamin A deficiency is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Human milk is the only source of vitamin A for exclusively breastfed infants. Dried Moringa oleifera (moringa) leaf powder is a good food source of vitamin A (35 µg RAE/g). The effect of moringa on maternal milk vitamin A content is unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal moringa consumption on the concentration of selected provitamin A carotenoids in milk.

Methods: We conducted a 3-month cluster-randomized intervention trial in 50 breastfeeding mother-infant pairs in Kisumu, Kenya. Women received corn porridge with or without moringa (20 g/d). Complete breast expressions were collected into light-protected containers at enrollment and 3 months, as was maternal and infant serum. Milk was analyzed for carotenoids (alpha-cryptoxanthin, lutein, lycopene, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, alpha-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, cis-lycopene, and cis-beta-carotene) and maternal/infant serum for retinol binding protein.

Results: 44 of 50 mother-infant pairs completed milk and serum samples. Only 3 mothers had vitamin A deficiency ( < 0.07 µmol/L retinol binding protein) at baseline. All carotenoids except zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin increased over 3 months in the moringa group more than in controls (p values not analyzed as clusters n=2). Alpha-carotene concentration in milk was higher in the moringa then control group at 3 months (median, IQR µg/mL 0.003, 0.003-0.004, n=22/cluster vs. 0.002, 0.001-0.003, n=22/cluster respectively; p=0.014). Milk carotenoids did not correlate with serum retinol binding protein in infants or mothers.

Conclusions: Maternal moringa consumption of 20 g/d resulted in select carotenoid increases. Larger studies of moringa’s utility for enhancing human milk carotenoids are warranted.

Funding Sources: This research was funded by an NIH K award and an NIH BIRCWH Award as well as early investigator startup funds from the University of Kentucky.