Moringa (Moringa oleifera, Moringa pterygosperma) leaves contain vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids as well as a number of glycosides. It has been used as a galactogogue in Asia,[1] particularly in the Philippines where it is called malunggay. Many published studies are of very poor quality. Small studies indicate that Moringa might have some activity as a galactogogue in mothers of preterm infants by increasing maternal serum prolactin and milk volume. A reasonably well-conducted study found no evidence of galactogogue activity in the first 3 days postpartum among mothers of full-term infants in a Baby Friendly hospital. Mixed results from several small studies found that Moringa either did or did not improve milk quality. Moringa oleifera leaves are widely used as a food and medicine in Asia and Africa and studies have found no adverse effects in nursing mothers who ingested Moringa leaves.[2,3] Moringa may stimulate blood clotting, so caution is advisable in anyone at risk for blood clots.[4] One study found no safety concerns of Moringa in nursing infants.[3] Galactogogues should never replace evaluation and counseling on modifiable factors that affect milk production.[5,6]
Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products. More detailed information about dietary supplements is available elsewhere on the LactMed Web site.