Mangoes, like other orange fruits and vegetables, are rich in beta-carotene and supply antioxidants which may delay cell harm. A new study from researchers in the University of California, Davis, finds ingesting Ataulfo mangoes, also known as honey or Champagne mangoes, might have another advantage — reducing facial wrinkles in elderly women with fairer skin.
Postmenopausal women who ate a half cup of Ataulfo mangoes four times a week saw a 23 percent decrease in deep wrinkles after two months and a 20 percent decrease after four months.
“That’s a significant improvement in wrinkles,” said lead author Vivien Fam, a doctoral student in the UC Davis Department of Nutrition. But the findings are very specific and come with a caveat.”
“Women who ate a cup and a half of mangoes for the same periods of time saw an increase in wrinkles. This shows that while some mango may be good for skin health, too much of it may not be,” Fam said.
Researchers said it is unclear why consuming more mango would increase the intensity of wrinkles but speculate that it may be associated with a robust amount of sugar at the larger portion of mangoes.
QUANTIFIABLE RESULTS
The randomized clinical pilot study involved 28 postmenopausal women with Fitzpatrick skin types II or III (skin that burns more easily than tans). Women were divided into two groups: one group consumed a half cup of mangoes four times each week for four weeks, and a second consumed a cup and a half for the same time period. Facial wrinkles were evaluated utilizing a high-resolution camera system.
“The system we used to analyze wrinkles allowed us to not just visualize wrinkles, but to quantify and measure wrinkles,” said Robert Hackman, professor in the Department of Nutrition and corresponding author of the study. “This is extremely accurate and allowed us to capture more than just the appearance of wrinkles or what the eye might see.”
The study looked in the severity, length and width of fine, deep and emerging wrinkles. Fam said the group that have a half cup of mangoes saw improvements in all categories.
Fam said additional research is required to learn the mechanics behind The decrease in wrinkles. She said it could be due to the valuable effects of carotenoids (orange or reddish plant pigments), and other phytonutrients which might help build collagen.