Glycemic/Insulinemic Effects of Fresh Mango as a Sugar Substitute in Realistic Breakfasts.

Effects of Fresh Mango as a Sugar Substitute Within High and Low Glycemic Breakfasts on Postprandial Glucose and Insulin

Large blood sugar and insulin increases after meals high in table sugar are related to risk for diabetes and heart disease. Additionally, large increases in blood sugar may also negatively impact vascular health. Previous research suggests that mango consumed in small quantities has blood sugar-lowering properties, but the evidence of this within larger, more realistic meals is limited. The investigators want to understand if replacing table sugar (sucrose) with sugar from fresh mango (which also contains fiber and plant bioactives) will lead to more favorable blood sugar, insulin, and vascular responses after eating breakfast meals. The investigators will compare the postprandial glycemic, insulinemic, and vascular response to low and high glycemic meals sweetened with either fresh mango or sucrose.

The investigators will recruit individuals with a BMI in the 18.5-35.0 kg/m2 range from the Ball State University campus and surrounding communities. Each participant will complete four meal trials in a randomized crossover design. At each meal trial, an intravenous catheter will be inserted and baseline blood sample collected. Brachial artery dilation will be measured using prior to the meal. Next, participants will consume one of four breakfast meals in a randomized crossover design: (1) cornflakes with 2% milk + fresh mango, (2) cornflakes with 2% milk + sucrose, (3) steel cut oats with water + fresh mango, and (4) steel cut oats with water + sucrose. Corn flakes based meals and oats based meals reflect high and low glycemic breakfasts, respectively. Within high and low glycemic meal conditions, total sugar from mango and sugar are matched, total energy is nearly identical (within 4 kcal), and macronutrients are matched.

After each meal, blood samples will be collected at the .5-, 1-, 2-, and 3-hour mark and brachial artery dilation (using the flow-mediated dilation technique) will be measured at 1-, 2-, and 3-hour marks. An acceptability survey (9-point hedonic scale) will be completed following the meal, and a satiety survey (the SLIM) will be filled out at baseline and .5-, 1-, 1.5-, 2-, 2.5-, and 3-hour mark. The investigators will measure metabolic markers (i.e., glucose, triglycerides, HDL-C) immediately after each sample collection using the Piccolo Xpress clinical chemical analyzer. Additional blood will be collected and stored as serum in order to measure insulin using commercially available ELISAs. Participants will complete a one-time DXA scan to measure body composition and bone density.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 - 45 years.
• Body mass index between 18.5-35.0 kg/m2
• Not pregnant (females only)
• Not postmenopausal (females only).
• Not been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.
• Not been diagnosed with a cardiometabolic conditions (e.g., type 2 diabetes)
• Not been diagnosed with a chronic inflammatory condition (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease).
• Does not regularly take anti-inflammatory drugs (more than 2x week).
• Does not use glucose-lowering drugs (e.g., metformin)
• Does not use lipid-lowering drugs (e.g., statins)
• Does not use tobacco products or any illicit drugs.
• Does not have a pacemaker.
• Can consume mango, wheat, gluten, and milk.
• Can stay in a supine position in the dark for at least ten minutes.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not between the ages of 18-45
• Body mass index < 18.5 kg/m2 or >35.0 kg/m2
• Pregnant (females only)
• Postmenopausal status (females only).
• Been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.
• Been diagnosed with a cardiometabolic conditions (e.g., type 2 diabetes)
• Been diagnosed with a chronic inflammatory condition (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease).
• Regularly take anti-inflammatory drugs (more than 2x week).
• Uses glucose-lowering drugs (e.g., metformin)
• Uses lipid-lowering drugs (e.g., statins)
• Uses tobacco products or any illicit drugs.
• Have a pacemaker.
• Allergic to mango, wheat, gluten, and/or milk.
• Unable to lay in supine position in the dark for at least ten minutes.