Effect of Supplementation of Drumstick (Moringa Oleifera) and Amaranth (Amaranthus Tricolor) Leaves Powder on Lipid Profile in Postmenopausal Women

Menopause is a gradual three-stage process that concludes with the end of periods and reproductive life. The antioxidant enzyme system get affected in postmenopause due to deficiency of estrogen, which has got antioxidant properties. The objective of the present study was therefore, to analyze the effect of supplementation of drumstick and amaranth leaves powder on lipid profile and blood pressure. Ninety postmenopausal women aged 45-60 years were selected and divided into three groups viz. Group I, II and III having thirty subjects in each group. The subjects of group II and III were supplemented daily with 7g drumstick leaves powder (DLP) and 9g amaranth leaves powder (ALP), respectively for a period of three months in their diet. The subjects of group I was not given supplementation. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C were analyzed before and after supplementation. Blood pressure of the subjects were also recorded. The data revealed that supplementation of DLP and ALP significantly decreased total cholesterol (14.2 and 8.2%), triglycerides (5.9 and 4.6%), LDL-C (10.9 and 5.3%), VLDL-C (5.8 and 4.6%) whereas increase in HDL-C (15.3 and 7.2%) in postmenopausal women of group II and III respectively. SBP and DBP decrease by 3.6 and 2.1% in group II whereas 4.3 and 6.7% in group III. The results indicated that these plants possess hypolipidemic and hypotensive properties.