Mango Modulates Blood Sugar

A fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae, the mango is rich in vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants, and  contains an enzyme that can act as a digestive aid.  Edralin Lucas, from Oklahoma State University (Oklahoma, USA), and colleagues examined the effects of daily mango consumption on clinical parameters and body composition in obese subjects (body mass index [BMI] at/above 30kg/m2). Twenty adults (11 males and 9 females) participated in the study, which included daily dietary supplementation with 10 grams of freeze dried mango (equivalent to approximately 100 grams of fresh mango, for 12 weeks.  The researchers observed that blood sugar levels at the conclusion of the study were significantly lower than the baseline in all subjects; BMI increased significantly in female subjects but not male subjects.   Writing that: “These results suggests that addition of mango to the diet may provide an alternative approach to modulating blood glucose without negatively affecting skeletal health” the study authors submit that: “the bioactive component(s) in mango and the mechanisms by which it modulates blood glucose and exerts potentially osteoprotective benefits warrants further investigation.”