Influence of 2 Weeks of Mango Ingestion on Inflammation Resolution after Vigorous Exercise

Abstract

Mangoes have a unique nutrient profile (carotenoids, polyphenols, sugars, and vitamins) that we hypothesized would mitigate post-exercise inflammation. This study examined the effects of mango ingestion on moderating exercise-induced inflammation in a randomized crossover trial with 22 cyclists. In random order with trials separated by a 2-week washout period, the cyclists ingested 330 g mango/day with 0.5 L water or 0.5 L of water alone for 2 weeks, followed by a 2.25 h cycling bout challenge. Blood and urine samples were collected pre- and post-2 weeks of supplementation, with additional blood samples collected immediately post-exercise and 1.5-h, 3-h, and 24 h post-exercise. Urine samples were analyzed for targeted mango-related metabolites. The blood samples were analyzed for 67 oxylipins, which are upstream regulators of inflammation and other physiological processes. After 2 weeks of mango ingestion, three targeted urine mango-related phenolic metabolites were significantly elevated compared to water alone (interaction effects, p ≤ 0.003). Significant post-exercise increases were measured for 49 oxylipins, but various subgroup analyses showed no differences in the pattern of change between trials (all interaction effects, p > 0.150). The 2.25 h cycling bouts induced significant inflammation, but no countermeasure effect was found after 2 weeks of mango ingestion despite the elevation of mango gut-derived phenolic metabolites.

Keywords: exercise; gallotannins; inflammation; mangoes; metabolites; oxylipins; tandem mass spectrometry.

Figure 1

Increase in urine mango phenolic metabolites after 2 weeks of mango ingestion versus water-only (control). The data in this figure and all other figures are expressed as mean ± SE. SE was calculated as the standard deviation divided by the square root of the sample size.

Figure 2

Plasma glucose data in the mango and water-only trials (interaction effect, p = 0.543).

Figure 3

Changes in plasma concentrations for EPA, DHA, and ARA.

Figure 4

Changes in plasma oxylipin groups: sum of all 49 oxylipins with significant time effects; eight oxylipins generated from arachidonic acid and cytochrome P-450 (ARA-CYP); four abundant oxylipins generated from linoleic acid with CYP and LOX (9,10-DiHOME, 12,13-DiHOME, 9-HODE, 13-HODE) (LA-DiHOMES + HODES). See Table S1 for additional information.