Eat Mangoes to Lower Blood Sugar Levels: Study

Intake of mangoes lowers blood sugar levels in obese adults, finds a study.

Obesity and excess body weight is a serious health concern affecting millions of Americans. The risk of diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart ailments and cancer are specifically high for people with high BMI and obese body. A new observation by the Oklahoma State University found mango consumption benefits overweight individuals by controlling their blood sugar levels and not increasing body weight.

The trial involved  20 adults  aged between 20 and 50 with 30 to 45 as their average BMI levels. The experts noted down the participant's body composition, biochemical parameters and anthropometric measurements to assess the effects of eating mangoes daily. The subjects carried on their normal diet and exercise regime during 12 weeks of study along with everyday intake of 10 grams of freeze-dried mangoes.

At the end of the experiment, the participants' anthropometric measurements that include height, weight and waist to hip measurement were retested. There were no changes in body weight, fat content, waist to hip ratio and muscle mass. Male subjects experienced slight reduction in hip circumference but both men and women did not have any drastic variations in trigylcerdide levels, blood pressure and cholesterol.

The results confirm past animal research on benefits of eating mangoes published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

"We are excited about these promising findings for mangoes, which contain many bioactive compounds, including mangiferin, an antioxidant that may contribute to the beneficial effects of mango on blood glucose. In addition, mangoes contain fiber, which can help lower glucose absorption into the blood stream," said Edralin Lucas, Ph.D., associate professor of nutritional sciences at Oklahoma State University, College of Human Sciences and lead study author in a news release.

"Our results indicate that daily consumption of 10 grams of freeze-dried mango, which is equivalent to about one-half of a fresh mango (about 100 grams), may help lower blood sugar in obese individuals. We believe this research suggests that mangoes may give obese individuals a dietary option in helping them maintain or lower their blood sugar," adds Lucas.

Owing to certain limitations like small sample size, lack of control group and duration of following mango diet, the researchers believe they must investigate further with additional human studies.

More information is available online in the journal Nutrition and Metabolic Insights.