Facility-based prospective cohort study to evaluate Moringa stenopetala based diet consumption in management of diabetes and hypertension in South Ethiopia

Moringa stenopetala is a multi-purpose tree known for its significant nutritional and medicinal properties. Existing investigational reports on the effects of Moringa stenopetala on lipid profile, blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose levels are exclusively based on laboratory studies utilizing experimental animal models. However, there is a lack of scientific evidence from either placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials or community- or health facility-based follow-up studies. Therefore, this follow-up study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of dietary Moringa stenopetala consumption on biochemical markers and clinical parameters for the management of diabetes and hypertension in adult patients. A facility-based prospective cohort study was conducted among patients with diabetes and hypertension receiving chronic care follow-up. The exposure group comprised patients who consumed Moringa stenopetala as a dietary component at Gidolie District Hospital, while the non-exposed group consisted of those who did not consume it at Chencha District Hospital. Blood samples (4–5 mL) was collected for serum lipid profile determination. Independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA were used to assess the mean differences in biochemical markers and clinical parameters. A P-value of less than 0.05, with a 95% confidence level, was considered to indicate a statistically significant effect. For participants on the Moringa stenopetala consuming based diet, mean serum cholesterol levels were 126.03 (95% CI: 118.49, 133.56), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were 71.47 (95% CI: 65.80, 77.13), and triglyceride levels were 109.40 (95% CI: 102.66, 116.14). In contrast, participants on the non-moringa diet exhibited mean serum cholesterol levels of 145.59 (95% CI: 135.25, 155.93), LDL levels of 74.39 (95% CI: 71.02, 77.77), and triglyceride levels of 116.27 (95% CI: 110.61, 121.93). The differences in these lipid parameters between the two diet groups were statistically significant (p = 0.001). Regarding blood pressure, participants on the moringa diet had a mean systolic blood pressure of 127.83 (95% CI: 123.85, 131.80) and a mean diastolic blood pressure of 78.26 (95% CI: 76.14, 80.38). In comparison, participants on the non-moringa diet had a mean systolic blood pressure of 133.71 (95% CI: 129.50, 137.91) and a mean diastolic blood pressure of 81.24 (95% CI: 79.02, 83.45). These differences in blood pressure were also statistically significant (p < 0.001). Moringa stenopetala consumption as a diet can have a beneficial effect in the management of diabetes and hypertension when frequently taken together with standard therapies. Further studies like randomized clinical trials are recommended to determine the medicinal value of moringa stenopetala in the management of diabetes and hypertension.