Effects of Mango Supplementation on Clinical Parameters of Individuals with Moderately Elevated Blood Glucose

Abstract

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. and is currently estimated to affect 25.8 million people. Type 2 diabetes or adult-onset diabetes is prevalent due to the rise in obesity. Pre-diabetes (fasting blood glucose between 100-125 mg/dl) is a condition with an elevated blood glucose that is not high enough to be categorized as diabetes. Dietary intervention in individuals with moderately elevated blood glucose may help delay the development of diabetes. The consumption of fruits and vegetables has been investigated for their effect on chronic diseases like diabetes. This study investigated the effects of supplementation of freeze-dried mango on clinical parameters of individuals with moderately elevated blood glucose. The mango fruit is rich in vitamins and minerals as well as the phenolic compounds quercetin and mangiferin that possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In a crossover design, individuals with fasting blood glucose between 100-125 mg/dl were recruited and asked to consume either a freeze-dried mango (10 g) or a placebo daily for 12 weeks with 3-4 weeks wash-out period between treatments. After 12 weeks of supplementation, there were no significant differences in glycemic indices between mango and placebo groups. There were also no significant differences in body composition or clinical parameters in either group with time or treatment. Unlike our earlier findings, chronic consumption of the mango fruit has a modest effect in lowering blood glucose but does not cause hyperglycemia in individuals with moderately elevated blood glucose.