Do Moringa Capsules Work for Weight Loss?

Moringa is a “superfood” that helps reduce pain. It also fights inflammation — a major contributor to health conditions including heart disease, elevated blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. 

But can the benefits of moringa be leveraged to help you lose weight? Keep reading to find out if experts recommend moringa capsules as a safe and effective way to manage weight. 

What Is Moringa?

The moringa tree is distantly related to cruciferous veggies like broccoli, kale, and cabbage, and has been consumed for centuries, mainly in parts of Southeast Asia. The leaves, flowers, seeds, pods, and roots of the plant are edible and contain high concentrations of protein, vitamins, and minerals.

“You can basically use every part of the plant, and it is not only high in protein, but it’s also a good source of vitamin C, amino acids, calcium, and potassium,” says Kate Donelan, RD, of Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto, California.

Moringa pods are picked while they’re still green and can be eaten fresh or cooked. In the U.S., it’s probably most common for the leaves to be dried and ground into a powder that’s added to soups, curries, and stews. Powder from the leaves is also used to make moringa capsules.

Why Do Some Scientists Think Moringa Could Help People Lose Weight?

Fruits and vegetables — including moringa — contain phytochemicals, which are chemicals and compounds that (when we consume them) contain antioxidants that have health-boosting benefits. The phytochemicals in moringa better metabolize sugar so it doesn’t get stored as fat.

According to research published in the Journal of Food Biochemistry in June 2022, several studies in rats and mice have shown that moringa has anti-obesity potential because of its positive effects on blood sugar control and cholesterol.

A study published in Nutrients in May 2022 looked at moringa dry leaf powder in people with prediabetes and found a “moderate but significant effect on glycemia markers.”

Because moringa has anti-inflammatory properties as well as properties that may help lower blood sugars, it could be thought to help with weight loss, says Beth Czerwony, RD, at Cleveland Clinic’s Digestive Disease & Surgery Institute in Ohio.

Does Moringa Help People Lose Weight?

Most studies on moringa’s potential impact on weight have been conducted on animals — it’s not as well studied in humans, says Donelan.

A study published in March 2021 in the Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences found that moringa leaf extract had an anti-obesity effect on rats who were also fed a high-fat diet.

Another study, published in Advances in Biology in July 2014, intentionally overfed rats with high-fat foods, which led to weight gain, high triglycerides, and bad cholesterol. Researchers then gave the rats extract of moringa leaves for seven weeks, resulting in weight loss and improved blood glucose. 

Moringa’s Impact on Weight Loss in People Needs to Be Studied More

There are few studies of moringa in humans, and they are small and not very rigorous, says Czerwony. The few studies that have been completed have looked at the effects of supplements containing moringa combined with other ingredients.

An eight-week study of 50 people with obesity found that the group taking 900 milligrams of a supplement containing moringa, turmeric, and curry lost 10.6 pounds — compared to only 4 pounds in the placebo group.

In a larger, 16-week study of 130 people with overweight, researchers randomized 130 people to receive either the same supplement formulation as mentioned above or placebo. Those given the supplement lost 11.9 pounds over 16 weeks, compared to only 2 pounds in the placebo group. Both studies were funded by the pharmaceutical company that manufactured the supplement.

To date, moringa has not been tested in enough people to be considered a safe or effective weight loss aid, says Czerwony. 

What Are the Safety Risks and Recommended Doses for Moringa?

There’s currently no dose of moringa officially recommended or considered safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Because there are no randomized clinical trials to recommend dosing, it’s not clear if it’s safe to take moringa every day or what the best dose is, so people who decide to take this should take it with caution, says Czerwony.

A small pilot study of five people who administered moringa oleifera dry leaf powder capsules in doses of 400 milligrams didn’t report any safety issues.

Anyone who would like to try moringa — for weight loss or general health — should discuss it with their healthcare provider and do research into reliable supplement manufacturers, says Czerwony. “Because herbal supplements are not regulated by the FDA, consumers should also be aware that the potency of batches can often change and that this could happen with taking this supplement,” she explains. 

Bottom Line: There Are Safer and More Reliable Options for Losing Weight

If someone is interested in losing weight, there are safer and more reliable options than moringa, says Czerwony.

Donelan agrees that even if your healthcare provider gives you the green light and you decide to take the supplement, ultimately you still need to practice the basics of weight management. That includes eating a healthy plant-based diet that focuses on lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; staying well-hydrated; and getting the recommended amount of physical activity, she says.

Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking

• Moringa — The Next Superfood? University of California, Davis. October 18, 2018.  
• Traditional Crops — Moringa. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
• What Are Phytochemicals? (And Why Should You Eat More of Them?) UCLA Health. May 10, 2023.
• Elarabany N, Hamad A, and AlSobeai S. Evaluating Anti-Obesity Potential, Active Components, and Antioxidant Mechanisms of Moringa Peregrina Seeds Extract on High-Fat-Induced Obesity. Journal of Food Biochemistry. June 3, 2022.
• Díaz-Prieto LE, Gómez-Martínez S, Vicente-Castro I, et al. Effects of Moringa Oleifera Lam. Supplementation on Inflammatory and Cardiometabolic Markers in Subjects With Prediabetes. Nutrients. May 5, 2022.
• Alkhudhayri DA, Osman MA, Alshammari GM, et al. Moringa Peregrina Leaf Extracts Produce Anti-Obesity, Hypoglycemic, Anti-Hyperlipidemic, and Hepatoprotective Effects on High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. March 3, 2021. 
• Bais S, Singh GS, and Sharma R. Antiobesity and Hypolipidemic Activity of Moringa Oleifera Leaves Against High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Rats. Advances in Biology. July 10, 2014. 
• Sengupta K, Mishra AT, Rao MK, et al. Efficacy and Tolerability of a Novel Herbal Formulation for Weight Management in Obese Subjects: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Clinical Study. Lipids in Health and Disease. September 20, 2012.
• Dixit K, Kamath DV, Alluri KV, et al. Efficacy of a Novel Herbal Formulation for Weight Loss Demonstrated in a 16-Week Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial With Healthy Overweight Adults. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. June 19, 2018.  
• Díaz-Prieto LE, Gómez-Martínez S, Dueñas M, et al. Effect of Different Doses of Moringa Oleifera in Postprandial Glucose. Influence of Participants’ Glucose Control Status. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. June 10, 2020.