Effect of Mango Consumption on Individuals with Pre-diabetes

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016), at least 100 million adults in the United States are diagnosed as pre-diabetic or Type 2 diabetic. With the number of cases steadily increasing in this population, healthcare costs have subsequently increased for both the patient and the health care system. To date, there are few studies (limited to animal model and obese Type 2 diabetic humans) that have examined the efficacy of mangoes on health outcomes, particularly related to diabetes. Therefore, the purpose of the current study is to examine the effect of fresh mango on glycemic indices, body composition, and vascular health measures. Upon favorable outcomes, and with more definite evidence from human studies, mangoes can potentially be implemented in America's diet to help mitigate the advancement and diagnoses of pre and Type 2 diabetes and, as a result, aid in a reduction of healthcare costs. The current study is a 24- week, randomized, controlled experiment including 40 overweight or obese, pre-diabetic men and post-menopausal women aged 50 to 70 years with no diagnosed cardiovascular, metabolic, kidney, or other types of chronic disease to be included. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) one fresh Tommy Atkins mango (120 g) per day or 2) an isocaloric granola bar per day for 24 weeks. Visits will include anthropometric measurements, glucose, and A1C values via finger prick, venous blood samples to analyze biomarkers related to glycemic control and lipid profiles, vascular measures, and body composition. To analyze the effects of the treatment, ANOVA and Bonferroni's test will be utilized. The investigators hypothesize that daily consumption of one mango per day for 24 weeks will improve the indices of glycemic control, cardiovascular health, and body composition in overweight and obese individuals with prediabetes.