Study: Eating Mangoes Can Reduce Women’s Facial Wrinkles
Although women who hate half a cup of mangoes 4 times a week saw a reduction in wrinkles, women who ate more mangoes saw an increase, suggesting that too much may have the opposite intended effect.
A new study from researchers at the University of California (UC) Davis found that eating Ataulfo mangoes, also known as honey or champagne mangoes, may reduce facial wrinkles in older women with fairer skin.
Postmenopausal women who ate a half cup of Ataulfo mangoes 4 times a week saw a 23% decrease in deep wrinkles after 2 months and a 20% decrease after 4 months, according to the study authors.
“That’s a significant improvement in wrinkles,” said lead study author Vivien Fam, RDN, LDN, a doctoral student in the UC Davis Department of Nutrition, in a press release. “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.”
The pilot study involved 28 postmenopausal women with Fitzpatrick skin types 2 or 3, or skin that burns more easily than it tans. The women were divided into 2 groups, with 1 group consuming a half cup of mangoes 4 times a week for 4 months, and the other group consuming a cup and a half of mangoes for the same period of time. Facial wrinkles were evaluated using a high-resolution camera system, according to the study authors.
“The system we used to analyze wrinkles allowed us to not just visualize wrinkles, but to quantify and measure wrinkles,” said study author Robert Hackman, PhD, professor in the Department of Nutrition, in a press release. “This is extremely accurate and allowed us to capture more than just the appearance of wrinkles or what the eye might see.”
Additionally, the study looked at the severity, length, and width of fine, deep, and emerging wrinkles. The study authors noted that the group that consumed a half cup of mangoes saw improvements in all categories.
Further research is needed to learn the mechanisms behind the reduction in wrinkles, considering the beneficial effects of carotenoids and other phytonutrients that could help build collagen, according to the study authors.
REFERENCE
Can eating mangoes reduce women’s facial wrinkles? UC Davis. https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/can-eating-mangoes-reduce-womens-facial-wrinkles/. Published November 19, 2020. Accessed November 23, 2020.
