Introduction: Moringa oleifera and honey are nutrient-rich local foods with the potential to combat malnutrition. Combining them may enhance their synergistic effects, offering a holistic nutritional solution. Objective: This study assessed the impact of Moringa oleifera plus royal jelly (MRJ) capsules on the weight, height, and nutritional status of toddlers in high-stunting coastal areas of Tojo Una-Una District. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used, with an intervention group receiving 500 mg of MRJ capsules daily for three months, and a control group with similar baseline characteristics. The study involved six high-stunting villages, with nutrition workers monitoring compliance. Height and weight were measured using standardized tools, while dietary intake was assessed via 24-hour recall. Data were analyzed using WHO Anthro 2006, NutriSurvey 2007, and JASP. Results: Baseline characteristics and food intake were similar between groups. Post-intervention, significant differences were observed in weight (9.00±1.29 kg vs. 8.45±0.93 kg, p=0.042) and height (76.57±3.43 cm vs. 74.23±5.30 cm, p=0.041). The intervention group also showed greater improvements in weight gain (0.99 ± 1.3 kg vs. 0.26 ± 0.7 kg, p < 0.005) and height increase (5.01 ± 2.8 cm vs. 2.83 ± 4.2 cm, p = 0.019). Additionally, HAZ scores improved significantly in the intervention group (-1.96 ± 1.24 to -1.55 ± 0.96, p = 0.027). Discussion: The findings align with previous research highlighting Moringa’s role in combating malnutrition. However, limitations include the non-RCT design, lack of a placebo group, and small sample size. Conclusion: MRJ supplementation significantly improved weight, height, and HAZ in toddlers, suggesting its potential as a nutritional intervention in areas prone to stunting. Further randomized trials are recommended to validate these results. other: We hope that this MRJ study can be developed by looking at the long term and using more rigorous methods to get more accurate results.
Basri et al. (Mon,) studied this question.