Mango Consumption Is Associated with Improved Nutrient Intakes, Diet Quality, and Weight-Related Health Outcomes

Short-Term Cardiometabolic Response to Mango Intake in Postmenopausal Women

BACKGROUND

Consumption of mangos has been associated with improved diet quality, with reported reductions in systolic blood pressure and inflammatory biomarkers when consumed daily in robust amounts for six to eight weeks. Whether these changes could occur with a shorter intake period is unknown.

METHODS

This study explored the effect of two weeks of mango intake (330 g/d) on microvascular function and cardiometabolic markers in a group of relatively healthy postmenopausal women with an overweight or obese body mass index. Outcomes were compared to two weeks of baseline measures without mango intake.

RESULTS

The primary outcome measure, microvascular function did not significantly change, while supine systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, mean pulse pressure, and fasting cholesterol were significantly reduced. No significant changes in platelet aggregation or adhesion markers were noted. To explore the results further, a small probe study was conducted comparing the intake of mango to a calorically-equivalent amount of white bread. Blood glucose rose in both groups one hour after consumption, but significantly less after mango intake. Insulin levels also rose one hour after intake of both foods, but remained elevated in response to white bread, suggesting a moderating effect of mangos on glucose absorption and metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research using amounts of mango typically consumed, over an extended period of time, are warranted.

Mango Consumption Is Associated with Increased Insulin Sensitivity in Participants with Overweight/Obesity and Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation

Background/Objectives: Chronic low-grade inflammation is associated with insulin resistance and poor glycemic control, leading to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The present study investigated the effect of regular mango intake on inflammation and insulin sensitivity in participants with overweight or obesity and chronic low-grade inflammation. Methods: A human clinical study was performed using a randomized, controlled, two-arm, parallel design with a 2 h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) administered before and after 4 weeks (4 W) of mango or control product intake (1 cup/twice a day). Fasting and time course blood sampling for 2 h post-OGTT were analyzed for effects on plasma metabolic and inflammation endpoints using analysis of covariance and repeated-measure approaches (SAS 9.4). Results: Forty-eight adults (37.6 ± 2.8 years, 30.5 ± 4.1 BMI kg/m2) completed the study. Markers of inflammation (IL-6, TNFα, hs-CRP) were not different at the end of 4 W (p > 0.05). The intervention did not significantly influence fasting glucose concentrations; however, insulin was significantly lowered with the mango compared to the control intervention (8.2 ± 1.2 vs. 15.3 ± 1.2 µIU/mL respectively, p = 0.05). Furthermore, the Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), along with the disposition index (DI), was significantly improved in the mango compared to the control interventions (HOMA-IR, 2.28 ± 1.19 vs. 4.67 ± 1.21, p = 0.03; DI, 2.76 ± 1.02 vs. 5.37 ± 1.03, p = 0.04). Mean insulin concentrations were also significantly lower at W4 compared to W0 after the OGTT in the mango vs. control intervention (intervention × week effect, p = 0.04). Relative expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2), a gene regulating endogenous antioxidant defense, was non-significantly increased twofold in the mango intervention (W4 vs. W0). Conclusions: Collectively, the data suggest that mango intake increased insulin sensitivity in individuals with chronic low-grade inflammation, possibly through activating Nrf-2 genes and increasing cellular antioxidant status. The data warrant further research on consuming mango fruit as part of a dietary pattern to address insulin resistance and the mechanisms underpinning the actions of mango intake.

The liver fibrosis-8 index is a predictor for all-cause mortality in cardiovascular disease patients: A cohort study

AIMS

Participants with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) often exhibit liver function abnormalities, hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. The extent of liver fibrosis is closely related to the prognosis of CVD. However, the association between the liver fibrosis-8 (FIB-8) index, a marker of liver fibrosis, and all-cause mortality in CVD participants remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the FIB-8 index and all-cause mortality among individuals with CVD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 1727 CVD American participants were enrolled from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 1999 to 2018. Initially, we constructed weighted COX regression models and performed sensitivity analyses to examine the correlation between the FIB-8 index and all-cause mortality in CVD participants. Subsequently, we employed restricted cubic spline (RCS) to visualize their linear relationship. Finally, the stratified analyses and interaction tests of covariates were performed and presented in the forest plot.

RESULTS

A total of 1727 participants were included in our study, with a mean age of 61.68 ± 0.47 years, with men accounting for 59.19%. After adjustment for relevant covariables, weighted COX regression models indicated that the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for the association between the FIB-8 index and all-cause mortality in CVD participants was 1.21 (1.12, 1.30). Sensitivity analysis was then conducted, revealing that the results remained stable. In fully adjusted model, individuals in quartiles 3 and 4 demonstrated significant statistical differences compared to the lowest FIB-8 index quartile, with HR (95% CI) values of 1.88 (1.23, 2.87) and 2.17 (1.33, 3.53), respectively. Subsequently, RCS showed a linear relationship between the FIB-8 index and all-cause mortality among CVD participants. Finally, the interaction test revealed that no other covariables had significant interactions with the FIB-8 index in this study.

CONCLUSIONS

A positive and linear correlation was observed between the FIB-8 index and all-cause mortality among CVD adult participants in NHANES from 1999 to 2018. Our findings indicated that the FIB-8 index could serve as an excellent indicator for assessing all-cause mortality within the CVD population. The lower the FIB-8 index, the lower the all-cause mortality among CVD participants.

Wild Foods Are Positively Associated with Diet Diversity and Child Growth in a Protected Forest Area of Madagascar

Background

Concurrent losses in biodiversity and human dietary diversity are evident in Madagascar and across many food systems globally. Wild food harvest can mitigate nutrition insecurities but may also pose species conservation concerns.

Objectives

This study aimed to examine the association of wild plant and animal species consumption during hunger season with diet diversity and child growth near the Alandraza-Agnalavelo protected forest in Southwestern Madagascar. Second, we studied the conservation status of the consumed wild plants.

Methods

Methods from public health nutrition (24-h recall dietary intake, anthropometry using World Health Organization [WHO] Growth Standards), ethnobotany, and forest ecology (ecologic studies of abundance, habitat preference, associated species, food chemistry assays, and species richness) were applied.

Results

Malnutrition in children (n = 305) was highly prevalent: stunting (32.3%); wasting (18.8%); and low-dietary diversity (4% meeting WHO minimum dietary diversity threshold). Animal foods were consumed in small quantities, providing <10% of Dietary Reference Intakes for all limiting nutrients. Twenty-two wild plant species were consumed during hunger season, prominently tubers (Dioscoreaceae), and leafy greens (Asteraceae, Blechnaceae, Portulacaceae, and Solanaceae). Eight of the 9 target species were identified as abundant and "Least Concern," whereas Amorphophollus taurostigma was abundant and "Vulnerable." Regression modeling showed wild food consumption was associated with an increased household dietary diversity score [β = 0.29 (0.06 standard error); P < 0.001], and total wild animal foods positively correlated with height-for-age Z score [β = 0.14 (0.07 standard error); P = 0.04].

Conclusions

Wild plant and animal foods may be an important element of food systems to support human nutrition while maintaining ecosystem viability.

Mango Consumption Was Associated with Higher Nutrient Intake and Diet Quality in Women of Childbearing Age and Older Adults

Nutritional equity has been recognized as a priority in nutrition research, as reiterated by the new life-stage approach utilized by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Two of the life stages focused on are pregnant and lactating females as well as older adults, due to their unique nutritional needs and unique chronic health conditions. Both groups have low intakes of several nutrients, including those of public health concern, and suboptimal diet quality, underlining the importance to improve their dietary intakes. Incorporating fruit into their diets could help alleviate these gaps. Thus, the objective of the current study is to expand upon our current knowledge of the benefits of fruit within these two subgroups that DGA guidelines focus on and determine nutrient and food group intake as well as diet quality in women of childbearing age (WCA; as a proxy for pregnant and/or lactating females, n = 16,774) and older adult (n = 18,784) mango consumers compared with non-consumers, using NHANES 1988-1994 and 1999-2018. Both WCA and older adult mango consumers had greater than 20% higher intakes of fiber and vitamin C and WCA consumers had upwards of 10% higher folate, magnesium, and potassium intakes compared with non-consumers. Both groups of consumers had lower intake of saturated fat and older adults had lower intakes of protein and vitamin B12. Diet quality was 16 and 13% higher in WCA and older adult consumers compared with non-consumers, respectively. Additionally, mango consumers had lower beef, poultry, fish, and solid fat intakes and WCA consumers had higher whole grain intakes compared with non-consumers. This study suggests incorporating mango into the diet could increase select nutrient intake as well as diet quality in specific life stages of adult Americans.

Green tea polyphenols improved the physicochemical stability of mango powder during storage

In this study, the physiochemical characters including moisture content variation, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), color, ascorbic acid content, total polyphenols, and antioxidant activities of mango powder fortified with green tea polyphenols (GTP) were investigated during storage for 90 d. Our results indicated stable colors of mango powder were found after GTP addition. GTP also inhibited the destruction of ascorbic acid during processing, and decreased its degradation rate during the whole storage. The total polyphenols of mango powder stored at 4 ℃ and room temperature decreased by 37.85% and 51.79%, respectively. After addition with GTP, the total polyphenols decreased only by 7.89%, and 13.31%, respectively. The antioxidant activities rose by 1.6 to 4.6-fold after GTP addition, and it decreased at a slower rate compared to that of unfortified mango powder. Correlation analysis indicated that EGCG might be the main substance that retain the physiochemical stability of mango powder.

Gas barrier coating based on cellulose nanocrystals and its preservation effects on mango

Mango is the "king of tropical fruits" because of its attractive appearance, delicious taste, rich aroma, and high nutritional value. However, mango keeps fast metabolizing after harvest, leading to water loss, starch conversion into sugar, texture softening, and decay. Here, a gas barrier coating based on cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) is proposed to control the post-harvest metabolism of mango. The results of gas barrier permeability show that CNCs enhance the barrier ability of the chitosan (CS) membrane on mango by 202 % and 63 % for oxygen and water vapor, respectively. The gas-barrier coating reduces the climb in pH and the decrease in firmness by 84.9 % and 45.8 %, respectively, decelerating the conversion process from starch to sugar. Besides, introducing clove essential oil (CEO), the CEO mainly adsorbs and crystalizes on the hydrophobic facets of CNCs, presenting high compatibility, increases the antibacterial rate to nearly 100 %. As a consequence, the preservation period of the mango coated by the CNC-based membrane is at least 7-day longer than the control group. Such a gas-barrier coating based on eco-friendly composites must have excellent potential in the preservation of mango, and even for other tropical fruits.

The Differences in Protein Degradation and Sensitization Reduction of Mangoes between Juices and Pieces Fermentation

Given the allergic reaction caused by mangoes, nonthermal food technologies for allergenicity reduction are urgently desired. This study aimed to assess the impact of kombucha fermentation on the allergenicity of mangoes. The total proteins, soluble proteins, peptides, amino acid nitrogen, the SDS-PAGE profiles of the protein extracts, and immunoreactivity of the sediment and supernatant were measured in two fermentation systems (juices and pieces fermentation). Throughout the fermentation, the pH decreased from about 4.6 to about 3.6, and the dissolved oxygen reduced about 50% on average. However, the protein degradation and sensitization reduction of mangoes were different between the two fermentation systems. In juices fermentation, there was a drop in proteins and peptides but an increase in amino acids, due to the conversion of proteins and peptides into amino acids both in the supernatant and sediment. The allergenicity decreased both in the solid and liquid phases of juices fermentation. In pieces fermentation, proteins and peptides were decreased in the solid phase but increased in the liquid phase. This was due to the fact that proteins and peptides were partly transported into the culture liquid, resulting in a decrease of allergenicity in fruit pieces and an increase in culture liquid. The principal component analysis results showed that the fermentation type had significant effects on the protein degradation and sensitization reduction, while mango variety had no significant effect. These results demonstrate that kombucha fermentation can reduce the allergenicity of mangoes, and it is more effective in juices fermentation than in pieces fermentation. The present study provides a theoretical basis for developing hypoallergenic mango products.

Analysis of the fungicidal efficacy, environmental fate, and safety of the application of a mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin mixture to control mango anthracnose

BACKGROUND

Mango anthracnose is among the most severe diseases impacting mango yields and quality. While this disease can be effectively controlled through chemical means, it is vital that appropriate field efficacy and fate determination studies be conducted when applying pesticides to crops in order to appropriately gauge the ecological and health risks associated with the use of these agents.

RESULTS

GAP field trials were conducted to explore the efficacy, dissipation, and terminal residues associated with the application of mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin to mango crops in six locations throughout China. These analyses revealed that three applications of mefentrifluconazole [160 mg active ingredient (a.i.) kg^-1 ] in combination with pyraclostrobin mixture achieved satisfactory disease control efficacy. To simultaneously detect mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin residues on mangoes, a 'quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe' (QuEChERS) high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS)-based approach was established. The initial mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin concentrations ranged from 0.18 to 0.34 mg kg^-1 , and these two compounds exhibited respective half-lives of 5.6 to 10.8 days and 5.5 to 9.0 days. At 21 days following foliage application, the terminal mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin residue concentrations were 0.02-0.04 and 0.01-0.04 mg kg^-1 , with these concentrations being below the maximum residue limit (MRL) established for pyraclostrobin. Both short-term [acute reference dose percent (ARfD%) 0.78-2.36% and 2.0-6.08%] and chronic [acceptable daily intake percent (ADI%) 0.08-0.47% and 0.09-0.55%] dietary intake risk assessments for mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin indicated that these terminal residue concentrations are acceptable for the general population.

CONCLUSION

Mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin in mango was rapidly degraded following first-order kinetics models. The dietary risk of mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin through mango was negligible to consumers. The application of a 400 g L^-1 mefentrifluconazole-pyraclostrobin suspension concentrate mixture represents a highly efficacious fungicidal approach to controlling mango anthracnose that exhibits significant potential for development as it is easily degraded and associated with low residual concentrations after application. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Watermelon Intake Is Associated with Increased Nutrient Intake and Higher Diet Quality in Adults and Children, NHANES 2003-2018

Watermelon is a nutrient-dense, low energy food that provides vital nutrients and contributes to overall fruit intake. Previous studies have found positive associations between watermelon and nutrient intake but few focused on raw watermelon intake or had small sample sizes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to utilize a large, nationally representative sample to determine associations between watermelon intake and nutrient intake and diet quality. Data from children (2-18 y) and adults (19+ y) who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles 2003-2018 were utilized in the current study. Watermelon intake was 7.51 and 7.29 g/d per capita in children and adults, respectively. In watermelon consumers, usual intake was 125 and 161 g/d in children and adults, respectively. Total diet quality was higher in watermelon consumers as compared to non-consumers as well as several subcomponent scores. Children and adult watermelon consumers had greater than 5% higher intake of dietary fiber, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin A as well as more than 5% lower intake of added sugars and total saturated fatty acids as well as higher intake of lycopene and other carotenoids. This study suggests watermelon can increase nutrient intake as well as diet quality in both children and adult Americans.