Menopausal Women and Moringa oleifera
Is Moringa oleifera beneficial for post menopausal women? Let's see what the research says....
Effect of supplementation of drumstick (Moringa oleifera) and amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) leaves powder on antioxidant profile and oxidative status among postmenopausal women
Abstract
Menopause is a gradual three-stage process that concludes with the end of periods and reproductive life. The antioxidant enzyme system get affected in postmenopause due to deficiency of estrogen, which has got antioxidant properties. The objective of the present study was therefore, to analyze the effect of supplementation of drumstick and amaranth leaves powder on blood levels of antioxidant and marker of oxidative stress. Fasting blood glucose and haemoglobin level of the subjects were also analyzed. The data revealed that supplementation of Moringa and Amaranthus significantly increased serum retinol glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase whereas decrease in marker of oxidative stress i.e. malondialdehyde (16.3 % and 9.6 %) in postmenopausal women. A significant (p ≤ 0.01) decrease was also observed in fasting blood glucose level (13.5 % and 10.4 %) and increase in haemoglobin (17.5 % and 5.3 %), respectively.
The results indicated that these plants possess antioxidant property and have therapeutic potential for the prevention of complications during postmenopause.
Kushwaha, S., Chawla, P. & Kochhar, A. J Food Sci Technol (2014) 51: 3464. doi:10.1007/s13197-012-0859-9
