The mango fruit is considered a rich source of important nutrients, making it one of the recommended options for obtaining vitamins and other nutrients. Research by American scientists revealed that regular consumption of fresh mango can help lower insulin levels and improve insulin sensitivity in adults with normal weight or obesity with chronic overfeeding. Scientists from the Illinois State University Institute of Technology explained that these results underscore the role of simple dietary choices in reducing the risk of chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. The results of the research were published in the journal "Nutritional Substances".
Body weight is one of the main factors negatively affecting insulin sensitivity. Increased fat content in the body, especially in the case of obesity, leads to increased insulin resistance, which means that cells become less responsive to it, and consequently, blood sugar levels rise, increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Therefore, improving insulin sensitivity through diet can help reduce insulin resistance and increase the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels without increasing weight.
The effect of mango
The study was conducted on 48 people aged 20 to 60 years, where the researchers compared the consumption of two cups of mango (which is equivalent to 100 calories) with the same calorie amount from other products (for example, Italian pasta) to determine the effect of mango on metabolism and insulin sensitivity. The results were impressive: participants consuming mango showed a significant decrease in insulin resistance, as well as notable improvement in beta-cell function, which is responsible for insulin secretion and regulation of blood sugar levels. Over four weeks, the group consuming mango showed decreased insulin levels during the glucose tolerance test while the control group did not show any changes. Regardless of the equal calorie intake in both groups, participants consuming mango did not gain weight, while the control group did.
Managing blood sugar levels
Lead researcher from the Illinois State University Institute of Technology, Dr. Indika Edirisinghe, stated that "managing blood sugar levels is related not only to controlling glucose levels but also to improved sensitivity of insulin." He added that "the results of our research show that adding fresh mango to the diet can be a simple and tasty way to support better insulin function in people with normal weight or obesity, and reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes."
Edirisinghe emphasized that these results confirm the widespread notion that consuming sweet mango may be detrimental to people with normal weight or diabetes, explaining that improving insulin sensitivity without changing weight indicates that antioxidants in mango may play a role in enhancing blood sugar level control.
