The Efficacy of Mung Bean Drink with Inulin and Iron Tablets in the Erythropoiesis Response of Adolescent Girls with Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Anemia in adolescent girls can have an impact on immunity, reproductive health, and cognitive function. Long-term treatment of anemia with iron tablets can cause gastrointestinal side effects resulting in decreased adherence and increased enteropathogenic bacteria. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of mung bean drinks with inulin and iron tablets in the erythropoiesis response of adolescent girls with iron deficiency anemia. This is a non -blinding randomized controlled trial study, by recruiting 61 female students from junior and high schools in Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Randomly assigned into two groups, the treatment group (n=30) received mung bean drink (40 g/250 ml) with inulin (10 g) and iron tablets (containing 60 mg elemental iron and 400 mcg folic acid), whereas the control group (n=31) received iron tablets and palm sugar drink (18 g/250 ml). Mung bean drink, palm sugar drink, and iron tablets were consumed once a day for 12 weeks. Data collection included monitoring of adherence to drinking and blood tests. The results showed that there was erythropoiesis response characterized by a significant increase in hemoglobin levels and change in reticulocytes counts. Hemoglobin levels increased by 1.08 g/dL (p<0.05) after 2 weeks, 1.82 g/dL (p<0.05) after 4 weeks, and 3.28 g/dL (p<0.05) after 12 weeks. Meanwhile, reticulocytes count increased by 0.59% (p<0.05) after 2 weeks, decreased by 0.14% (p<0.05) after 4 weeks, and decreased by 0.1% (p<0.05) after 12 weeks. The change in reticulocytes counts was consistent with the increase in hemoglobin levels. This proves that mung bean drink with inulin enhances the effect of iron tablets and is effective in erythropoiesis response, thus it can be used for the prevention and treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adolescent girls.