Immune Enhancing Potential of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Powder in Hiv/Aids Patients at Mbagathi County Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
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Date
2025-10
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Kenyatta University
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is managed by the use of ARVs,
which are expensive, cause side effects, and are associated with drug resistance and
drug failure. The use of nutritional remedies in the management of HIV/AIDS is
becoming popular. The purpose of the study was to investigate the immune
enhancing potential of Moringa oleifera in the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients. The
information obtained from this study will provide insight into alternative remedies
to reduce the burden of HIV/AIDS. A Quasi-Experiment of the regression
discontinuity type was carried out at the Comprehensive Care Center, Mbagathi
County Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. One hundred and seventy-three HIV seropositive
participants on ARV treatment and also attending the regular clinic were allocated
to either the intervention group (n=99) supplemented with Moringa oleifera leaf
powder, or the control group (n=74), which was a separate comparative group not
supplemented. The participants were followed for six months from February 2019
to July 2019. Immune functions were assessed by CD4+ T cell counts, CD8+ T cell
counts, total lymphocyte counts, and viral load measurements. All these tests were
taken at baseline, at the end of the third and sixth months of the study period.
Hematological parameters were assessed by white blood cell (WBC) counts,
platelet (PLT) counts, red blood cell (RBC) counts, and hemoglobin (HB) levels.
Toxicity was assessed by determination of liver and kidney functions by using the
Cock Croft formula (CGF). Data was analyzed using STATA 12.1. Estimates of
mean and standard deviation were obtained by descriptive analysis. The normality
test for the data was conducted by using the Shapiro-Wilk test. One-way Analysis
of variance tests (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s post hoc tests were used to
determine the significance of the mean difference in immunological, hematological,
weight, body mass index (BMI), and creatinine levels between the two groups. The
study group was further subdivided into subsets based on their baseline immune
parameters and levels of immunity. All these tests were conducted at 95%
confidence intervals. Over the study period, the results showed no significant
difference in CD4+ T cell counts (p= 0.523), CD8+ T cell count (p= 0.908), total
lymphocyte counts (p= 0.185) WBC (p= 0.327), HB (p= 0.490), PLT (p= 0.250)
weight gain (p= 0.251), BMI (p= 0.868), and creatinine levels (p= 0.103) between
the two groups. The RBC count of the control group was significantly higher
compared to that of the intervention group (p= 0.003). It was observed that
supplementation with M. oleifera has no effect on the immune functions and
hematological parameters of HIV patients. It was also observed that consumption
of M. oleifera has no effect on the weight, BMI, and creatinine levels of HIV
patients. It was also observed that the number of participants with nondetectable
viral load in the intervention group increased while that of the control group
decreased. The study concluded that while supplementation with M. oleifera has no
effect on immune functions, hematological parameters, weight, and BMI, it
enhances the efficacy of ARVs in suppressing the viral load of HIV/AIDS patients
and is safe; therefore, nutritional supplementation with M. oleifera should form part
of the strategy to improve treatment outcomes.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Immunology) in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences Of Kenyatta University. October, 2025
Supervisors
Michael Gicheru
Elizabeth Mumbi Kigondu
Wanyoro A. Karanja