Moringa oleifera: what is it?

Moringa oleifera is a drought-resistant tree (also known as the drumstick or horseradish tree) used in cooking all over the world. Importantly, every part of the plant is used: the whole leaves, stalks, mature seeds, oil pressed from seeds and the roots. It is a slightly bitter ingredient that can be added to soups, smoothies and baked goods (and for dogs in toppings and treats). For convenience, we use the (organic) powder.

Supplement

Recognised as a rich source of phytochemicals, moringa oleifera offers a range of nutritional and medicinal compounds which give it anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibiotic properties. Because of potential applications in functional food preparations it is valued as a dietary supplement for humans. Now interest is growing in the possibilities for its use in canine nutrition.

Source of phytochemicals

One study[1] showed that several parts of this plant have therapeutic effects owing to a rich source of phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenols, glucosinolates, proteins and vitamins. Another study investigated the use of moringa oleifera plants for functional food[2] and yet another looked into the application of moringa oleifera in baked products to improve their functional and nutritional value[3].

Canine studies

Whilst most of these studies relate to the plant itself or its nutritional content, I did find studies relating specifically to dogs which concluded (1) that moringa leaves have possible beneficial therapeutic effects and that administering moringa leads to an increase in the concentration of antibodies against parvovirus and has potential as an immune boosting agent[4]; and (2) that moringa has a hypoglycaemic effect and can be useful in the management of diabetes in dogs[5].

I am currently using moringa – in moderation – as an addition to smoothies, baked products and training treats.

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References:

[1] SILVA, M. V. S. da .; PADILHA, R. T. .; PADILHA, D. de M. M. . Benefits of Moringa oleifera for human and animal health: Literature review. Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 10, n. 8, p. e50010817495, 2021. DOI: 10.33448/rsd-v10i8.17495. https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/17495. Acessed 12 jun. 2024.
[2]  Oyeyinka A.T., Oyeyinka S.A. Moringa oleifera as a food fortificant: Recent trends and prospects. J. Saudi Soc. Agric. Sci. 2018;17:127–136. doi: 10.1016/j.jssas.2016.02.002.
[3] Milla PG, Peñalver R, Nieto G. Health Benefits of Uses and Applications of Moringa oleifera in Bakery Products. Plants (Basel). 2021 Feb 6;10(2):318. doi: 10.3390/plants10020318. PMID: 33562157; PMCID: PMC7915875.
[4] The effect of feeding dried powder of Moringa oleifera leaves on total cholesterol  level and antibody titer against Parvo virus in dogs
Hussein Abdel hay Kaoud, Kassem Mahmoud Iraqi, Maged Mahmoud Khalil and Eman Mohamed Ismail Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/gscarr.2020.4.3.0074
[5] Haematological and Biochemical Changes in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Dogs Treated with Aqueous Extract of Moringa oleifera Leaves Journal of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics  ISSN 2422-8427 An International Peer-reviewed Journal Vol.33, 2017

Nutritional values

For more information, see Science Direct*:

* Lakshmipriya Gopalakrishnan, Kruthi Doriya, Devarai Santhosh Kumar, Moringa oleifera: A review on nutritive importance and its medicinal application, Food Science and Human Wellness, Volume 5, Issue 2, 2016, Pages 49-56, ISSN 2213-4530, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fshw.2016.04.001.

 

Important Considerations:

  • Always consult your veterinarian before making any significant dietary changes, particularly where there are pre-existing health conditions or dietary restrictions.
  • Ensure (where possible) that you use high-quality, organic products specifically formulated for pets (or better still, human grade ingredients) to avoid any potential adverse effects.
  • Introduce new foods gradually to avoid adverse effects such as gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea.
  • I provide nutritional information purely as a helpful guide. Nutritional information on ingredients is obtained from the US Department of Agriculture’s FoodData Central site (https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/index.html) and any nutritional information provided in recipes is based on an online calculator: calories and other information will vary based on brands, ingredients and other factors.
  • Check nutrient levels and recommendations for your dog’s weight, age and activity. For example this nutritional guideline produced by FEDIAF.