Comparative Effectiveness of Pumpkin Cream Soup and Moringa Leaf Juice in Reducing Blood Glucose Levels

Dini Junita; Yulia Fitri; Riski Amelia

doi:10.35910/icohpj.v5i0.1097

Dini Junita Department of Nutrition, Health Polytechnic of Aceh, Indonesia
Yulia Fitri Department of Nutrition, Health Polytechnic of Aceh, Indonesia
Riski Amelia Department of Nutrition, Health Polytechnic of Aceh, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35910/icohpj.v5i0.1097

Keywords: Blood glucose reduction, Functional food, Pumpkin cream soup, Moringea leaf juice

Abstract

Background: Blood glucose management is crucial for preventing complications related to diabetes. Nutritional interventions such as Moringa leaf juice and pumpkin cream soup have been proposed as functional foods to assist in glycemic control. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Moringa leaf juice and pumpkin cream soup compared to a control group in reducing blood glucose levels among adult participants.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted involving three groups: Moringa leaf juice intervention (n=20), pumpkin cream soup intervention (n=20), and a control group (n=20). Blood glucose reduction was measured pre- and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by post-hoc pairwise comparisons using the Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction. Effect sizes between groups were assessed using Cohen’s d.

Results: The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant differences in blood glucose reduction among the groups (p = 0.027). Post-hoc analyses indicated that both intervention groups (Moringa leaf juice and pumpkin cream soup) showed greater reductions compared to the control group; however, these differences were not statistically significant after Bonferroni correction. The comparison between Moringa leaf juice and pumpkin cream soup was not statistically significant (p = 0.950). Effect size analysis demonstrated small to moderate effects between the intervention groups and the control group, suggesting a clinically meaningful, though statistically non-significant, improvement in glucose control.

Conclusion: Both Moringa leaf juice and pumpkin cream soup interventions exhibited potential benefits in lowering blood glucose levels compared to no intervention. The observed effect sizes highlight their potential as complementary dietary strategies for blood glucose management. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer intervention periods are recommended.