Daily mango (Mangifera indica L.) consumption supplemented with probiotics differentially modulates inflammation and cognitive function in individuals with overweight or obesity: a placebo-controlled, double-blind, and randomized trial.
- 2026
- Food & function 17(2)
- Hyemee Kim
- Kevin B Kiefer
- Shannon E Schmidt-Combest
- Giuliana Noratto
- Shirley Arbizu
- Maria Joselyn Castellon Chicas
- Nicos C Georghiades
- Steven E Riechman
- Colin D Kay
- Rodrigo San-Cristobal
- Stephen T Talcott
- Susanne U Mertens-Talcott
- PubMed: 41410576
- DOI: 10.1039/d5fo01687h
Study Design
- Type
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
- Population
- Fifty lean participants (BMI 18-23 kg m^{-2}) and 44 overweight/obese participants (BMI 27-35 kg m^{-2}) aged 18-65
- Methods
- Double-blind, randomized, controlled pilot study; 8 weeks of 400 g fresh mango with one placebo/probiotics capsule
- Blinding
- Double-blind
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Funding
- Unclear
- Rigorous Journal
Mango, rich in gallotannins with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, may enhance cognitive performance in overweight/obese individuals. However, bioavailability of mango polyphenol metabolites is reduced in this population. Probiotics may improve bioavailability by hydrolyzing parent compounds into smaller molecules. Main objective of this double-blind, randomized, controlled pilot study was to evaluate whether 8 weeks of mango and probiotic intake would enhance microbial gallotannin-metabolite levels, reduce inflammation, and improve cognitive function in overweight/obese individuals. Fifty lean participants (BMI 18-23 kg m-2) and 44 overweight/obese participants (BMI 27-35 kg m-2) aged 18-65 consumed 400 g of fresh mango with one placebo/probiotics capsule for 8 weeks. Cognitive function tests and blood collections occurred on days 1 and 54, with additional visual cognitive tests between days 43-54. Mango plus probiotics significantly reduced plasma Δ TNF-α in overweight/obese participants but had no effect in lean participants. Lean individuals showed improved cognitive performance (Trail Making Test A and Digit Span scores), while overweight/obese participants improved only in Digit Span Backward. Gallotannin-metabolites increased in lean participants regardless of treatment but increased only with probiotic intake in overweight/obese participants. Microbiota analysis identified enrichment of Lactobacillus and Lachnospiraceae in the mango-probiotics group, while Clostridium and Streptococcus decreased. Overweight/obese participants with higher systemic exposure to gallotannin-metabolites showed improved Δ IL-1β, Δ total ghrelin, and Δ PYY. Despite probiotic supplementation, low metabolite producers had increased Firmicutes and Clostridiaceae. Overall, probiotics enhanced cognitive performance in lean participants, while attenuated inflammation and improved cognitive function in overweight/obese participants, likely due to increased systemic exposure to gallotannin-metabolites.
Research Insights
overweight/obese participants improved only in Digit Span Backward
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 400 g fresh mango per day + one placebo capsule per day
overweight/obese participants improved only in Digit Span Backward
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 400 g fresh mango per day + one placebo capsule per day
Mango plus probiotics significantly reduced plasma Δ TNF-α in overweight/obese participants but had no effect in lean participants
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 400 g fresh mango per day + one placebo capsule per day