11/04/2025
It is often unclear why certain individuals have low milk supply.
For some parents, a lower level of the hormone prolactin can be reason for low milk supply. There are many galactagogues - supplements and medications used to increase milk supply -that may act to increase prolactin and consequently milk supply including moringa
Moringa, sometimes called the “miracle tree,” is a nutrient-rich galactagogue that is high in vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and all essential amino acids. It has a positive impact on its growing environment and is considered environmentally sustainable.
Its bioactive compounds, particularly phytosterols and polyphenols, are believed to enhance prolactin levels.
A systematic review looked at 6 available studies on the effect of moringa supplementation postpartum in increasing milk supply. Parents identified in these studies were healthy with an uncomplicated postpartum course and were exclusively breastfeeding. All studies randomly assigned patients to receive moringa supplementation or a placebo and looked at breast milk volume and prolactin levels. All included studies showed an increase in milk supply, ranging from an increase of 135mL/day to up to a 400mL/day increase, over the placebo group.
Prolactin levels also showed an increase among study participants, as well as milk fat content, when this was studied. Although all studies used commercially-available moringa, the exact preparation varied among studies, with dosing varying considerably, as well as the length of treatment. Some studies used only 3 days of moringa supplementation, while another used moringa for up to a month.
Importantly, no parental gastrointestinal or allergic reactions were noted, and no infant side effects were reported. There is much more to learn and know about the effect moringa may have on milk supply, but for now, moringa supplementation seems like a promising natural way to boost milk supply.
For article see: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40724308/
