Malnutrition Treatment of Adolescent Girls Using Moringa Chocolate Cookies

摘要

Malnutrition is still a significant problem in the world. According to Indonesian Basic Health Research (2013), malnutrition is found in 9.4% Indonesian adolescents aged 16-18 years old. The city of Probolinggo has the sixth highest level of malnutrition (13%) in the East Java province, and 4.1% of malnutrition occurs in adolescent girls. Moringa oleifera Leaf Powder (MOLP) contains high levels of protein and iron and has been used to fortify some foods, includingchocolate cookies. This study therefore investigates the effect of Moringa chocolate cookies (Morichoco) on body weight in adolescent girls with malnutrition. A total of 36 adolescent girls with malnutrition from five Senior High/Vocational Schools in Probolinggo city participated in this study. They were randomly divided into three groups: 12 in the control group (C) were only given chocolate cookies, 12 in the treatment group (Tl) were given chocolate cookies fortified with 4 g MOLP, and 12 in the T2 group who were given chocolate cookies fortified with 8 g MOLP. The treatment was performed for 60 days. Their body weight was measured before, during, and after treatment. All collected data were analyzed using the MANOVA test with p value < 0.05. Before treatment, mean body weight of the C group (38.24±5.00 kg) was slightly lower than the Tl (39.63±3.75 kg) and T2 groups (38.41±3.90 kg). After 30 days treatment, the mean body weight only increased in the C and T2 group (38.53±5.59 and 38.53±3.21 kg). At the end of treatment, the mean body weight of±the Tl group remained stable and adolescent girls in the C and T2 groups had mean body weights of 38.95±5.27 kg and 38.73±3.56 kg, respectively. Dose and duration of Morichoco administration did not significantly affect body weight (p> 0.05). In conclusion, administration of Morichoco was unable to increase body weight of adolescent girls with malnutrition.