Acceptability of Moringa oleifera leaf powder among healthy adults in the United States

Objective

To assess the acceptability of moringa leaf powder, a nutrient-dense plant that has been mostly tested in pre-clinical studies.

Methods

We conducted an acceptability study of different doses of moringa leaf powder in California in 2023. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three groups (one tsp. ≈ 2.4 g [low dose], two tsp. ≈ 4.8 g [medium dose], or three tsp. ≈ 7.2 g [high dose]) and instructed to consume the moringa powder with foods or beverages for seven days. Participants were interviewed and had their skin carotenoid levels measured at baseline and endline and completed daily surveys on consumption and side effects. The study outcomes were consumption (number of days it was consumed), liking (sum of organoleptic characteristics ratings) and side effects (number of symptoms reported).

Results

Fifty-two participants were enrolled; 96 % completed the study. The number of days that moringa was consumed (Median = 7, Interquartile range:7,7), changes in skin carotenoid levels, and total liking scores did not differ by dose group (p = 0.56, p = 0.79, and p = 0.27, respectively). The number of overall and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms differed by dose group. Participants in the high dose group self-reported more overall (p = 0.001) and GI symptoms (p = 0.002) than those in the low dose group.

Conclusions

Compliance in consuming moringa was high for all groups, suggesting that all three doses tested may be acceptable in future moringa supplementation trials. GI symptoms may occur more frequently when the moringa doses are higher than 7 g/day, but they tend to be mild and transient.