Adoption of Moringa oleifera to Combat Under-Nutrition Viewed Through the Lens of the “Diffusion of Innovations” Theory

Abstract

Moringa oleifera, an edible tree found worldwide in the dry tropics, is increasingly being used for nutritional supplementation. Its nutrient-dense leaves are high in protein quality, leading to its widespread use by doctors, healers, nutritionists and community leaders, to treat under-nutrition and a variety of illnesses. Despite the fact that no rigorous clinical trial has tested its efficacy for treating under-nutrition, the adoption of M. oleifera continues to increase. The “Diffusion of innovations theory” describes well, the evidence for growth and adoption of dietary M. oleifera leaves, and it highlights the need for a scientific consensus on the nutritional benefits.

KEYWORDS:

• diffusion of innovations theory
• Moringa oleifera
• nutrient supplement

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Special thanks go to Balbir Mathur, Jeffrey Faus, Lowell Fuglie, Lydia da Ragos, Beth Doerr, Amaglo Newton, Doris Strong, Monica Marcu, and Deepak Acharya, all of whom have generously shared their knowledge and expertise with the authors. We are grateful to the Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Foundation and NIH Grant #1R01 CA 93780-05A2 for partial financial support. None of the authors has any conflicts of interest.

Notes

^a Though M. oleifera does not have a strong, noticeable taste, the food the leaves are added to will be notably green. Therefore the placebo should be similar in taste and color, such as lettuce.

^b WHO recommends infants under the age of 6 months should be exclusively breastfed and therefore should not be included in such a study where complementary feeding is involved.