The Effect of Moringa Leaf Fortification on Improving the Nutritional Status of Stunting Toddlers in Coastal Areas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53713/htechj.v3i2.338Keywords:
healthy eating culture, moringa leaf fortification, stunting, toddlersAbstract
Stunting is still a serious problem in many developing countries, including Indonesia. The government has taken various steps to address this condition, one of which is through the Supplementary Feeding Program (PMT). Baby food products containing moringa leaves are considered to be able to help in dealing with stunting. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing a healthy diet with moringa leaf fortification in handling stunted toddlers. The research method used was a quasi-experiment involving 50 toddlers divided into two groups: 25 in the treatment group and 25 in the control group. The study showed increased height in toddlers given moringa leaf-based food through fortification. On average, toddler height increased by 2.9 cm after the intervention. The results of the paired sample t-test statistical test showed a significance value of 0.003 (<0.05), indicating that moringa leaf fortification effectively improved the nutritional status of stunted toddlers. These findings suggest that moringa fortification could be a viable, sustainable approach to combat stunting in resource-limited settings. However, further research through randomized controlled trials and longitudinal studies is recommended to validate these outcomes and explore broader applications in public health nutrition programs.
References
Afriza, Z. N. ., Muhani, N. ., Sari, N. ., & Sari, F. E. . (2023). Use of Moringa Leaves to Meet Toddler Nutrition in The Prevention of Stunting. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 9(12), 11333–11341. https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v9i12.4325
Basri, H., Hadju, V., Zulkifli, A., Syam, A., Indriasari, R., & Helmiyanti, S. (2020). Dietary diversity, dietary patterns and dietary intake are associated with stunted children in Jeneponto District, Indonesia. Gaceta Sanitaria, 35, S483-S486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2021.10.077
Budiman, A., Radi, R. L., Sari, D. P., & Taufik, N. (2022). Diversification Production and Consumption of Moringa Oleifera Becoming Moringa Leaf Extract Capsules as an Alternative for Food Resilience. Pasundan International of Community Services Journal (PICS-J), 4(1), 21-29. https://doi.org/10.23969/pics-j.v4i1.5920
Brar, S., Haugh, C., Robertson, N., Owuor, P. M., Waterman, C., Fuchs, G. J., & Attia, S. L. (2022). The impact of Moringa oleifera leaf supplementation on human and animal nutrition, growth, and milk production: A systematic review. Phytotherapy Research, 36(4), 1600-1615. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7415
Budiningsih, F., Purwanto, B., Wasita, B., & Poncorini, E. (2025). Effects of Moringa oleifera extract on inflammaging markers, muscle mass, and physical endurance in geriatric mice model. Narra J, 5(1), e2025-e2025. https://doi.org/10.52225/narra.v5i1.2052
De Sanctis, V., Soliman, A., Alaaraj, N., Ahmed, S., Alyafei, F. ., & Hamed, N. (2021). Early and Long-term Consequences of Nutritional Stunting: From Childhood to Adulthood: Early and Long-term Consequences of Nutritional Stunting. Acta Biomedica Atenei Parmensis, 92(1), 11346. https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v92i1.11346
Dewi, N. U., & Mahmudiono, T. (2021). Effectiveness of food fortification in improving nutritional status of mothers and children in Indonesia. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(4), 2133. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042133
Dhani, S. P., Putri, N. I., Rusfira, R., & Anwar, S. (2022). Additional Feeding with The Basic Ingredients of Moringa Oleifera for Pregnant Women to Overcome Stunting. Journal of Nutrition Science, 3(1), 26-30. https://doi.org/10.35308/jns.v3i1.5563
Fadeli, M., Satria, B., & Sadhana, K. (2024). Community Empowerment through Processed Moringa cultivation, Production and Marketing: Study of the Keloris Community in Ngawenomboh Village, Kunduran District, Blora Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. International Journal of Research in Social Science and Humanities (IJRSS), 5(2), 64-85. https://doi.org/10.47505/IJRSS.2024.2.7
Foudjo Saha, B. U., Choumessi, A. T., Ayamo, A. M., Mouafo Kuagny, R. B., Teta, I., Nantia, E. A., & Ejoh, R. A. (2021). Nutritional Quality of Three Iron-Rich Porridges Blended with Moringa oleifera, Hibiscus sabdariffa, and Solanum aethiopicum to Combat Iron Deficiency Anemia among Children. Journal of Food Quality, 2022(1), 4309892. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4309892
Hadju, V., R, S., Unde, A., & Bahar, B. (2020). Moringa oleifera capsule and diet in young women with dropout school. Gaceta Sanitaria, 35, S211-S215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2021.10.023
Handayani, Y., Aminah, S., & Yanis, M. (2022). Characteristics of moringa leaf powder as fortification and consumer acceptance. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 1027, No. 1, p. 012005). IOP Publishing. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1027/1/012005
Haruni, D. S., Nuhriawangsa, A. M. P., & Febrinasari, R. P. (2024). Acceptability and Nutritional Value of Mackerel Fish Nugget with Additions of Moringa Leaves Flour for Stunting Children Under-Five Years in West Nias Regency. Nusantara Science and Technology Proceedings, 61-71. https://doi.org/10.11594/nstp.2024.4209
Harsanti, T., & Ubaidillah, A. (2024). Socio-economic Status of Mothers and Stunting Among Their Children of Under-Five Years Age in Urban Areas of DKI Jakarta. In Urban Dynamics, Environment and Health: An International Perspective (pp. 511-530). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-5744-6_23
Islam, Z., Rashadul Islam, S. M., Hossen, F., Hasan, M. R., & Karim, R. (2020). Moringa oleifera is a Prominent Source of Nutrients with Potential Health Benefits. International Journal of Food Science, 2021(1), 6627265. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6627265
Khan, M. A., Shakoor, S., Ameer, K., Farooqi, M. A., Rohi, M., Saeed, M., Asghar, M. T., Irshad, M. B., Waseem, M., Tanweer, S., Ali, U., Mohamed Ahmed, I. A., & Ramzan, Y. (2022). Effects of Dehydrated Moringa (Moringa oleifera) Leaf Powder Supplementation on Physicochemical, Antioxidant, Mineral, and Sensory Properties of Whole Wheat Flour Leavened Bread. Journal of Food Quality, 2023(1), 4473000. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/4473000
Lameky, V. Y. (2024). Stunting in Indonesia: Current progress and future directions. Journal of Healthcare Administration, 3(1), 82–90. https://doi.org/10.33546/joha.3388
Manggul, M. S., Hidayanty, H., Arifuddin, S., Ahmad, M., Hadju, V., & Usman, A. N. (2020). Biscuits containing moringa oleifera leaves flour improve conditions of anemia in pregnant women. Gaceta Sanitaria, 35, S191-S195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2021.07.013
Meli, A. M., & Ali, A. (2021). Dietary Intake, Nutritional Status And Cognitive Performance Among Fishermen’s Children: A Review. Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 21(1), 148–159. https://doi.org/10.37268/mjphm/vol.21/no.1/art.1092
Muflihatin, I., Vestine, V., Eko, J. G., & Swari, S. J. (2021, January). Modisco with Moringa leaf for improving childhood’s nutritional status. In The First International Conference on Social Science, Humanity, and Public Health (ICOSHIP 2020) (pp. 114-117). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.210101.025
Putra, A. I. Y. D., Setiawan, N. B. W., Sanjiwani, M. I. D., Wahyuniari, I. A. I., & Indrayani, A. W. (2021). Nutrigenomic and biomolecular aspect of Moringa oleifera leaf powder as supplementation for stunting children. Journal of Tropical Biodiversity and Biotechnology, 6(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.22146/jtbb.60113
Rachmawati, P. D., Triharini, M., & Suciningtyas, P. D. (2021). The contribution of family functions, knowledge, and attitudes in children under five with stunting. Enfermería ClíNica, 31, S296-S300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enfcli.2020.12.035
Roni, R. A., Sani, M. N., Munira, S., Wazed, M. A., & Siddiquee, S. (2020). Nutritional Composition and Sensory Evaluation of Cake Fortified with Moringa oleifera Leaf Powder and Ripe Banana Flour. Applied Sciences, 11(18), 8474. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11188474
Rotella, R., & Soriano, J. M. (2022). The Impact of Moringa oleifera Supplementation on Anemia and other Variables during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: A Narrative Review. Nutrients, 15(12), 2674. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15122674
Saavedra, J. M., & Dattilo, A. M. (2021). Nutrition in the first 1000 days of life: Society’s greatest opportunity. Early Nutrition and Long-Term Health (Second Edition), 3-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-824389-3.00023-4
Saleh, A., Syahrul, S., Hadju, V., Andriani, I., & Restika, I. (2020). Role of Maternal in Preventing Stunting: A Systematic Review. Gaceta Sanitaria, 35, S576-S582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaceta.2021.10.087
Saputra, R. D., Afidah, Z., Syahputra, D. S., Maulida, Z., & Nuraini, L. (2024). Arduino-Based Moringa Cultivation and Innovation in Processed Moringa Products to Prevent Stunting, Cangkring Village, Jenggawah District, Jember Regency. Unram Journal of Community Service, 5(4), 381-384. https://doi.org/10.29303/ujcs.v5i4.731
Sitompul, Y. R., Tampubolon, C. H., Ananda, G. O., Farizi, R. E., Kara, Y., & Carnetita, G. N. (2025). Community Empowerment through a Movement with Healthy Kitchen to Overcome Stunting. Asian Journal of Community Services, 4(2), 173-180. https://doi.org/10.55927/ajcs.v4i2.43
Sokhela, H., Govender, L., & Siwela, M. (2023). Complementary feeding practices and childhood malnutrition in South Africa: the potential of Moringa oleifera leaf powder as a fortificant: a narrative review. Nutrients, 15(8), 2011. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15082011
Solikhah, F. K. ., Astuti, E. S. ., Ernawati, N. ., Arif, T. ., Tyas, M. D. C. ., Hamarno, R. ., Wiyono, J. ., & Subekti, I. . (2023). Community Empowerment with Stunting Filters to Create Healthy Families. Inovasi Lokal, 1(2), 80–85. https://doi.org/10.62255/noval.v1i2.74
Srimiati, M., & Agestika, L. (2022). The Substitution of Fresh Moringa Leaves and Moringa Leaves Powder on Organoleptic and Proximate Characteristics of Pudding. Amerta Nutrition, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.20473/amnt.v6i2.2022.164-172
Sudiarta, N. P. (2022). Utilization of moringa leaf powder as a jelly candy flavor. The Journal Gastronomy Tourism, 9(2), 99-107. https://doi.org/10.17509/gastur.v9i2.52378
Yusriadi, Y., Sugiharti, S., Ginting, Y. M., Sandra, G., & Zarina, A. (2024). Preventing Stunting in Rural Indonesia: A Community-Based Perspective. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 24(9), 24470-24491. http://dx.doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.348069
