Mango modulates body composition of ovariectomized mice and mice fed high fat diet

The increasing trend of obesity has resulted in renewed interest in investigating the role of foods in modulating body composition. Mango ( Mangifera indica L .) provides a number of bioactive compounds that may play a role in the attenuation of body fat. The effects of freeze‐dried mango fruit on body composition were examined in two separate studies involving mice fed high fat diet and ovariectomized (ovx) mice. In the first study, male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four treatment groups (n=8/group): control, high fat diet (HF), HF + 1% or 10% mango (w/w). After eight weeks of treatment, mice receiving the HF diet had significantly higher epididymal fat mass and % body fat compared to mice on the control diet. Both doses of mango prevented the increase in epididymal fat mass and % body fat associated with HF diet. In the second study, female C57BL/6 mice were sham‐operated and ovx and were randomly assigned to receive control diet, 5% or 25% (w/w) mango diet (n=8/group). After eight weeks of treatment, ovx mice had a higher % body fat in comparison to the sham group. Both doses of mango had lower % body fat in comparison to the ovx group but not quite to the level of the sham group. The mechanism by which mango exerts this positive effects on body composition warrants further investigation.