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The Hindu
09-08-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
250 grams of mangoes instead of bread for breakfast led to improved glycaemic control in diabetics
A small study carried out for two months involving 35 participants with type-2 diabetes has found that daily consumption of 250 grams of mango pulp and 200 ml of toned milk for breakfast resulted in improved glycaemic control, weight loss, reduced waist circumference, and improved insulin sensitivity compared with the control group. The control group had 81 grams of white bread and 200 ml of toned milk. Results of the study were published recently in the Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders. The serving size of mango was chosen based on macronutrient content to ensure equicaloric comparison with the control group. Blood glucose levels, body weight, anthropometric measures, and lipid profile of all 35 participants were measured before and after two months of the study. The participants were split into three groups — two treatment groups and one control group. The two treatment groups had 10 participants each — one group was served Safeda (Banganapalli) mango pulp, while the other treatment group was served Dasheri mango pulp. The control group with 15 participants consumed 81 grams of white bread. Lunch and dinner for both the treatment and control groups was a standard equicaloric diet as advised by guidelines for Asian Indians. Lunch and dinner for participants in the treatment and control groups were rich in vegetables and fruits, whole-grain, high-fibre foods, low-fat dairy products, limited foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, less sugar-sweetened beverages and foods with added sugar, reduced salt intake and no alcohol. One of the main reasons why participants in the treatment groups showed improved glycaemic control is because of the relatively less glycaemic index of mango compared with white bread. Food items with lower glycaemic index are less likely to significantly spike blood sugar levels when consumed in moderation. In addition, the fibre content in mangoes contributes to slower glucose absorption. 'The relatively lower glycaemic index and fibre content in mangoes is the reason why there is better blood glucose control and reduced insulin resistance compared with the group that had white bread, which is carbohydrate,' says Dr. Anoop Mishra, Chairman, Fortis-C-DOC Centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology, Chirag Enclave, New Delhi, and the corresponding author of the paper. 'It is important to note that a finite and small serving of mangoes should be a replacement for carbohydrates. Diabetics should not consume mangoes in addition to normal diet,' he says. 'The glycaemic index of mango is low to moderate — from 51 to 56 — while it is around 75 for white bread,' says Dr. Sugandha Kehar from the Diabetes Foundation (India), New Delhi, and the first author of the paper. 'The sweetness of mangoes is wrongly perceived to elevate our blood glucose levels. We fail to realise or take into account the low-moderate glycaemic index of mangoes. We incorporate white bread and other refined carbohydrates in our diet without realising the adverse effects, particularly the relatively high glycaemic index.' Participants in the intervention group were served 250 grams of mango pulp for breakfast each day for the entire duration (two months) of the study. According to Dr. Kehar, there is no difference between eating fresh mango and mango pulp. Mango pulp was used in the study to ensure compliance and to ensure participants had only 250 grams of mango each day for two months. The control group who consumed white bread showed significant increases in fasting blood glucose levels and HbA1c, while participants in the intervention group (both mango varieties) had lower fasting blood glucose levels and HbA1c. Participants in the intervention group (both mango varieties) demonstrated improvements in insulin sensitivity compared with the control group. There was reduction in body weight, BMI and waist circumference among participants who consumed mangoes compared with those who consumed white bread. Importantly, the average blood sugar level for the day among participants who consumed mangoes was less compared with participants who consumed white bread. 'A better glucose profile after breakfast can help maintain better blood sugar levels throughout the day,' says Dr. Mishra. This is where substituting carbohydrates with a limited portion (about 250 grams) of mangoes for breakfast will help diabetics better control their blood glucose levels. While blood glucose levels, anthropometric measurements, weight and BMI were measured by the researchers before the start and end of the study, daily blood glucose levels were measured by the participants using a glucometer and daily food intake details were also recorded by the participants. The study has some limitations. Besides being small in size, the duration of the study was only for two months. Larger studies for a longer duration are necessary to confirm the benefits of limited consumption of mangoes for breakfast instead of carbohydrates. Pilot study The team had undertaken a pilot study to test the effectiveness of mangoes in reducing blood glucose levels. The pilot study tested both diabetics and non-diabetics. In the first part of the pilot study, the oral tolerance test two hours after breakfast consisting of 250 grams of mangoes (three varieties) for the intervention group and white bread for the control group was studied. The study included 25 non-diabetics and 20 type-2 diabetics. Mangoes were found to produce similar or lower (non-significant) glycaemic responses in both diabetics and non-diabetics. In the second part of the pilot study, blood glucose was monitored continuously for three days. The study included 25 non-diabetics and 25 type-2 diabetics. Mangoes (250 grams) for breakfast produced similar glycaemic responses as bread in the case of non-diabetics. However, in the case of diabetics, the harmful glucose variation was significantly lower in participants who consumed mangoes (intervention group) compared with the control group (white bread).
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
The Hindu Huddle to shine the light on rising tide of non-communicable diseases in India
Let us look at some sobering facts: India has the highest number of people living with diabetes in the world, with an estimated 212 million cases in 2022. According to the World Health Organization, there are an estimated 77 million people in India above the age of 18 who are suffering from diabetes (type 2) and nearly 25 million are prediabetic (at a higher risk of developing diabetes in near future). That is probably the largest part of the non-communicable diseases (NCD) pie. Add to this the number of people with hypertension, stroke, cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic lung disease and the actual position is truly staggering. NCDs occur because of a combination of factors — primarily changing lifestyles, environmental factors, and genetics — and have grown to a huge proportion in the country. The messaging, therefore, is that interventions have to be immediate, and effective, both in terms of launching treatment as well as prevention strategies. A session at The Hindu Huddle, which will be held in Bengaluru on May 9 and 10, titled 'Non-communicable diseases: Trojan horse of India's health', seeks to discuss the multiple dimensions of India's NCD 'epidemic' and evaluate strategies that may be deployed by the public and private health sectors to ensure that the tide is stemmed and that all those who already have NCDs have access to treatment and affordable healthcare. On the panel are three key experts from India who stand at various points of the care paradigm. They will share real-time experiences, and possible solutions for the way forward. While Preetha Reddy, executive vice-chairperson, Apollo Hospitals, comes armed with the experience of being at the head of cutting-edge private care in the country, Anoop Mishra, chairman, Fortis C-DOC Hospital for Diabetes and Allied Sciences, brings to the table avant-garde research in the sector and experiences from close patient interactions. Chandrakanth Lahariya wears many hats, but will participate as someone who keenly watches the health systems of the country and a sagacious policy adviser. The session will be moderated by Ramya Kannan, Health Editor and Chief of Bureau, Tamil Nadu, The Hindu. If you have any questions that you would like the moderator to ask the panellists, write to huddle@
