EFEKTIVITAS PENAMBAHAN TEPUNG DAUN KELOR (Moringa Oleifera) TERHADAP KANDUNGAN ZAT BESI (Fe) DAN VITAMIN A KERUPUK SEBAGAI CEMILAN SEHAT

Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf crackers are an innovative food product that can be utilized as a nutritious snack. Moringa is widely
recognized as a superfood due to its high nutritional value, including proteins, vitamins, and minerals that provide various health benefits.
In the context of improving community dietary patterns, these crackers may serve as a healthier snack alternative. This study aimed to
evaluate the effectiveness of Moringa oleifera leaf supplementation in increasing the iron (Fe) and vitamin A contents of crackers as a
healthy snack alternative. The analyses were conducted using a spectrophotometric method with standard calibration curves to determine
iron and vitamin A concentrations. The treatments consisted of different concentrations of Moringa leaf powder: 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%.
The results showed that the addition of Moringa leaf powder significantly increased the iron content, from 0.67 mg/100 g in the control
treatment to 3.05 mg/100 g at the highest concentration. Vitamin A content also increased with increasing levels of Moringa leaf
supplementation, although the trend was not entirely linear due to the effects of processing on compound stability. The standard
calibration curves demonstrated a linear relationship between concentration and absorbance, indicating that the analytical method was
valid. These findings suggest that the incorporation of Moringa oleifera leaf powder effectively enhances the nutritional quality of
crackers, particularly in terms of iron and vitamin A content, making them a promising healthy snack option.
Keywords: Moringa oleifera; crackers; iron; vitamin A; healthy snack; spectrophotometry.