Mangoes: Do They Remove Wrinkles? A New Study Wants To Find Out!

Mangoes and Wrinkles?

Do you enjoy eating mangoes? Are you worried about your skin and want to prevent wrinkles? Well, there might be some exciting news for you. A team of UC Davis scientists believes that the cure to wrinkles might be as straightforward as just eating your favorite fruit. A new study in the university’s dermatology and nutrition departments is looking into the effects of a mango-rich diet on facial wrinkles. They are focusing on facial wrinkles in addition to skin redness, utilizing a participant pool of postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 70. Mangoes

This is the next step in research after a Korean Institute of Oriental Medicine study found mango extract helped hairless mice, as they had less skin damage from sun exposure when compared to a normal control group. In that previous study, they focused on the effects of Mangifera indica L., also known as the mango, which is known as an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. It was found in the mice group that received mango extract orally had significant improvement in mean length of wrinkles. Additionally, it was found that the mango extract mice group also had significantly inhibited increases in epidermal thickness and epidermal hypertrophy. They also had noticeably increased collagen bundles, suggesting mango’s use in preventing and improving wrinkles.

In this upcoming study, the study coordinator will be chopping, weighing, freezing, and distributing roughly 3,000 pounds of mangoes to the 40 participants. The reasoning behind the study is to identify clear links between the recommended daily consumption of fruit, not only for general health but particularly regarding skincare and health. “We all know dietary guidelines ask us to eat at least two cups of fruits per day for general health… if there is data that shows eating (mangoes) could be good for your skin, that would make it so much easier,” as stated by Vivien Fam, UC Davis nutritional biology Ph.D. student, the study coordinator.

The UC Davis Study

For the purposes of the study, participants will be eating mangoes four times a week for 16 weeks. They will also meet with UC Davis scientists five times during this 16 week period to give facial photographs, in addition to stool, blood, and skin samples. It is reported that the participants must have Fitzpatrick skin types I, II, or II and must be in good health, meaning their BMI is between 18.5 and 35. They must also not be taking any medications and should avoid using skin care products, excluding sunscreen and moisturizer, during the testing period.

Mangoes are currently receiving lots of attention as a superfood. They were also found in recent research to help with gastrointestinal issues, including constipation and inflammatory bowel disease. Clearly, this research is far from having any definitive data to suggest that mangoes can have a meaningful impact on improving your skin and preventing wrinkles, but if this study does find anything, future research needs to identify what element within mangoes is having this effect on the skin. Despite the lack of concrete data, this study may provide new information on the potential anti-aging effects of mangoes.