Pregnant Women Should Eat Mangos for Diet Boost

If you're pregnant, lactating or trying to have a baby, one fruit could be a vital source of nutrients.

During pregnancy, nutrition is critical for the health of the mother and her growing baby. Still, studies have shown that 1 in 10 pregnant women in the U.S. does not hit her daily recommended intake for key nutrients, including vitamins D, C and E as well as folate, magnesium and potassium.

"Pregnant women are at risk for several health conditions, like gestational diabetes and hypertension, putting their health and the health of the unborn baby at risk," Kristin Fulgoni, director of research at consulting company Nutrition Impact LLC, said in a statement. "Diet is a key component of prevention plans."

In a recent study published in the journal Nutrients, Fulgoni and the company's senior vice president, Victor Fulgoni, analyzed data from 16,744 women aged between 15 and 44 to assess how consumption of a specific fruit could affect the overall nutritional value of the women's diets. And that fruit was mango.

"Mangos are a healthful fruit that contribute many of the nutrients associated with reducing risk of pregnancy-related diseases—including fiber, folate, magnesium, potassium and vitamin E," Fulgoni said.

In their study, the researchers assessed the participants' diets based on a validated dietary measure called the Healthy Eating Index. Using this metric, the team found that women of childbearing age who regularly consumed mangos had a 16 percent higher Healthy Eating Index score than those who did not eat them.

Specifically, this included:

• 70 percent higher vitamin C intake
• 31 percent higher fiber intake
• 30 percent higher vitamin E intake
• 26 percent higher folate intake
• 16 percent higher magnesium intake
• 11 percent higher potassium intake

The women also showed a 17 percent lower intake of added sugars and an 11 percent lower intake of saturated fat.

As well as looking at younger women, the recent study examined the diets of 18,784 older adults, aged over 60, and found similar increases in overall healthy eating scores among mango consumers.

Of course, this study is purely observational so we can't conclude there is a causal relationship between mango consumption and nutrient intake. There is also the possibility that those who eat mangos may be more conscious of their diet overall.

"A small percentage of the population consume mango, making it possible the study indirectly selected people with healthier diets possibly resulting in higher nutrient intakes and diet quality measures," the study's authors write.

Further studies will be needed to confirm these results.

"These findings add to a growing body of research showing the positive impacts of adding mangos to diverse diets," Leonardo Ortega, a research director at the National Mango Board, which funded the study, said in a statement.

"As a heritage-based food culturally connected to more than 1 out of every 4 Americans, mangos can be an important bridge to improve nutrition equity and the diet and nutrition quality of our multi-cultural country," he said.