Moringa oleifera Leaf Supplementation during Pregnancy Improves Six-Month Breastfeeding Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Banggai, Indonesia

Breastfeeding offers crucial health benefits for both mothers and infants, yet many face challenges in maintaining exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for six months postpartum. Moringa oleifera is a natural galactagogue traditionally used to boost breast milk production, but limited research has examined its effects when consumed during pregnancy on long-term breastfeeding outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Moringa supplementation enriched with royal jelly (MRJ) during pregnancy on breastfeeding success at six months postpartum. This research was a follow-up to a double-blind, randomized controlled trial conducted during pregnancy. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a daily MRJ capsule (intervention group) or a multi-micronutrient supplement (MMS; control group) from the second trimester until delivery. A total of 88 women were enrolled, with 42 in the MRJ group and 46 in the MMS group. Data on maternal and infant characteristics and breastfeeding success scores were collected through structured questionnaires. Most mothers were aged 20–35 years, had diploma-level education, and were predominantly housewives. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. EBF rates at six months were higher in the MRJ group (52.4%) than in the MMS group (32.6%), although the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.09). However, the MRJ group had a significantly higher mean breastfeeding success score (95.00 ± 5.02) compared to the MMS group (90.71 ± 11.10) (p = 0.042). Maternal MRJ supplementation during pregnancy significantly improves breastfeeding success at six months postpartum, highlighting its potential as a natural intervention to enhance maternal and infant health.