Daily mango (Mangifera indica L.) consumption supplemented with probiotics differentially modulates inflammation and cognitive function in individuals with overweight or obesity: a placebo-controlled, double-blind, and randomized trial

Abstract

Mango, rich in gallotannins with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, may enhance cognitive performance in overweight/obese individuals. However, bioavailability of mango polyphenol metabolites is reduced in this population. Probiotics may improve bioavailability by hydrolyzing parent compounds into smaller molecules. Main objective of this double-blind, randomized, controlled pilot study was to evaluate whether 8 weeks of mango and probiotic intake would enhance microbial gallotannin-metabolite levels, reduce inflammation, and improve cognitive function in overweight/obese individuals. Fifty lean participants (BMI 18–23 kg m⁻²) and 44 overweight/obese participants (BMI 27–35 kg m⁻²) aged 18–65 consumed 400 g of fresh mango with one placebo/probiotics capsule for 8 weeks. Cognitive function tests and blood collections occurred on days 1 and 54, with additional visual cognitive tests between days 43–54. Mango plus probiotics significantly reduced plasma Δ TNF-α in overweight/obese participants but had no effect in lean participants. Lean individuals showed improved cognitive performance (Trail Making Test A and Digit Span scores), while overweight/obese participants improved only in Digit Span Backward. Gallotannin-metabolites increased in lean participants regardless of treatment but increased only with probiotic intake in overweight/obese participants. Microbiota analysis identified enrichment of Lactobacillus and Lachnospiraceae in the mango-probiotics group, while Clostridium and Streptococcus decreased. Overweight/obese participants with higher systemic exposure to gallotannin-metabolites showed improved Δ IL-1β, Δ total ghrelin, and Δ PYY. Despite probiotic supplementation, low metabolite producers had increased Firmicutes and Clostridiaceae. Overall, probiotics enhanced cognitive performance in lean participants, while attenuated inflammation and improved cognitive function in overweight/obese participants, likely due to increased systemic exposure to gallotannin-metabolites.