Effect of Moringa Royal Jelly on the Nutritional Status and Cognitive Level of Adolescent Girls (MRJ)

Hasanuddin University

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Anemia; Undernutrition; Stunting; Cognitive Function 1, Social

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Moringa Oleifera

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07037498

Nutrition (Other Identifier)

2739/UN4.14.1/TP.01.02/2024

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a locally developed supplement called MRJ - a combination of Moringa oleifera (drumstick tree) extract and royal jelly - can improve the nutritional status and cognitive function of adolescent girls more effectively than standard iron and folic acid (IFA) tablets.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does MRJ supplementation lead to better improvements in nutrition (e.g., hemoglobin, body measurements)?

Does MRJ supplementation enhance cognitive function compared to IFA tablets?

Researchers will compare MRJ capsules to IFA tablets (the standard of care) among adolescent girls.

Participants will:

Take 2 MRJ capsules per week (intervention group) or 1 IFA tablet per week (control group) for 12 months

Receive nutrition education via short TikTok-based videos

Have their adherence monitored weekly by teachers and through WhatsApp photos

Measurements will be taken at the start, 6 months, and 12 months, including:

Height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)

Hemoglobin levels via finger-prick blood test

Dietary intake using a 24-hour recall and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)

Cognitive function assessed with the Culture Fair Intelligence Test (CFIT)

Participants are healthy junior and senior high school girls aged 10-18 years from Galesong Selatan, Takalar District, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Potential side effects (e.g., nausea or stomach discomfort) will be monitored according to school health protocols.

The findings may support the use of culturally appropriate, nutrient-rich interventions for improving adolescent girls' health and future well-being.

Full description

This clinical trial aims to evaluate whether a locally produced supplement, MRJ (a combination of Moringa oleifera extract and royal jelly), can improve nutritional status and cognitive function among adolescent girls in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, compared to the standard iron and folic acid (IFA) tablets provided by the government. If proven effective, MRJ may serve as a culturally acceptable and nutrient-rich alternative to support adolescent health and development.

Enrollment: 372 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 12 to 19 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• (1) Age 10-19 years (2) Adolescent girls' who are active in grades 1 and 2 (junior high and senior high)

Exclusion criteria

• (3) Severe nutritional or health conditions (e.g., severe anemia, severe malnutrition, allergies), determined through clinical histories and validated self-reports.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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372 participants in 2 patient groups

MRJ Supplementation Group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this arm receive MRJ capsules containing 490 mg Moringa oleifera extract and 10 mg royal jelly, taken twice per week for 12 months. The supplementation is accompanied by standardized nutrition education delivered through TikTok videos. Adherence is monitored weekly via teacher-supervised log sheets and WhatsApp documentation.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Moringa Oleifera

IFA Tablet Group (Control)

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants in this arm receive weekly iron-folic acid (IFA) tablets according to national guidelines (60 mg elemental iron and 400 µg folic acid) for 12 months. They also receive the same standardized nutrition education via TikTok videos. Adherence is tracked using weekly log sheets verified by teachers and supported by WhatsApp photo submissions.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Moringa Oleifera