The Efficacy of Mung Bean Drink with Inulin and Iron Tablets in the Erythropoiesis Response of Adolescent Girls with Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of mung bean drink with inulin and iron tablets on the erythropoiesis response as characterized by changes in reticulocyte count of adolescent girls with iron deficiency anemia. This is a non-blinding, randomized controlled trial with pre-test-post-test with control groups research design which was conducted in Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Sixty-one adolescent girls with iron deficiency anemia were recruited from junior and senior high schools and then randomized into two groups. The treatment group (n=30) received iron tablets and a mung bean drink with inulin, whereas the control group (n=31) received iron tablets and a palm sugar drink. The intervention was carried out for 12 weeks. Data collection involved interviews, monitoring adherence to drinking, and blood tests. Data were analyzed using Chi-Square Tests, paired T-Tests, and Mann-Whitney Tests. The results showed that there was a significant increase in reticulocyte count after two weeks of intervention in the treatment group (p-value 0.0001) and the control group (p-value 0.001). After four and 12 weeks of intervention, reticulocyte counts of both groups decreased along with increasing hemoglobin levels. In conclusion, the mung bean drink with inulin and iron tablets is effective in the erythropoiesis response.