New trials show ‘multiple health benefits’ from consuming mango: Industry body

By Gary Scattergood

- Last updated on GMT

Four studies have been published in the FASEB Journal. ©iStock
Four studies have been published in the FASEB Journal. ©iStock

Related tags Metabolism Nutrition

Several emerging human studies on mango consumption are reporting improved blood pressure, blood sugar control and gut health, according to the National Mango Board.

India accounts for almost half the global production of the fruit, followed by China and then Thailand.

The latest raft of research, published in the FASEB Journal, ​was conducted by the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at Texas A&M University and the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Oklahoma State University.

Chuo Fang, from Texas A&M University, investigated the metabolic effects of daily consumption​ of freshly frozen mango pulp (400g) for six weeks in lean and obese subjects, and the relationship between mango metabolites to Body Mass Index (BMI) and circulating biomarkers.

The study concluded: “Daily mango consumption lowers blood pressure in lean individuals, and benefits obese individuals by maintaining long-term glucose homeostasis. Galloyl-derivatives from mango may possess therapeutic potential in the prevention and treatment of obesity and metabolic disorders, which remain to be confirmed in a larger-size human clinical trial.”

Meanwhile, researcher Crystal O'Hara, from Oklahoma State University, examined the post-prandial response​ of young, healthy males (18-25 years) following consumption of a typical American high-fat breakfast with or without a mango shake, which included 50g of mango pulp (equivalent to 250g of fresh mango).

The study found that one hour after the meal with mango, plasma glucose was lower. IL-6 also tended to be lower four hours after the meal with mango shake.

The study concluded: Acute mango consumption had modest effects on post-prandial responses.”

Gut microbiota

In another randomised pilot study​, researchers from Texas A&M University, led by Hyemee Kim, investigated the potential role of mango consumption in changes of the gut microbiota, the bioavailability of galloyl metabolites, and anti-inflammatory activities in lean and obese subjects.

It found that: The levels of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Clostridium leptum, microbiota associated with obesity, were significantly higher in obese subjects compared to lean subjects on the baseline, but decreased after six weeks of mango intake.”

Lastly, researchers from Texas A&M University​ examined the absorption, metabolism, and excretion of gallic acid, galloyl glycosides, and gallotannins in lean and obese individuals that consumed 400g of freshly frozen mango pulp daily for six weeks.

The study's lead researcher, Susanne Mertens-Talcott suggests that extended mango consumption may offer increased anti-inflammatory benefits compared to sporadic mango consumption, and this would need to be confirmed within an extended efficacy study.

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